As the stage adaptation of Annie Proulx's story "Brokeback Mountain" hits the West End, Ed Cumming takes a reflective look back on Heath Ledger and the role that made him an unforgettable talent. Prior to Brokeback Mountain, Ledger had struggled to find fulfilling work within the industry and described to Time Magazine in 2005 how he had been "spoon-fed" his career by a studio who believed they could make a product out of him. Despite tough competition for the role from the likes of Matt Damon and Joaquin Phoenix, Ledger convinced the filmmakers his more introverted and less showy nature was what made him the right choice to play Ennis del Mar. Annie Proulx even went so far as to credit Ledger for "erasing her original character" and replacing her own interpretation with something far more visceral and effective. The role took an emotional toll on Ledger and he found himself seeking reassurance from the screenwriter, Diana Ossana, during filming. Ledger died in 2008, leaving behind a career marked by incredible talent and potential.
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams has said that the US and other major economies are still in a fundamentally low-interest-rate world despite pandemic-related inflation. Speaking during a US central bank conference in Washington, Williams commented on the natural rate of interest, or R-Star, which will be estimated by the bank on a quarterly basis. Williams said that there was no evidence that the era of very low natural rates of interest had ended and that the impact of the pandemic on R-Star estimates appears relatively modest.
Google has marked the anniversary of the word “poutine” being added to the English language by unveiling a new doodle. As with many popular dishes, the story of where the dish of french fries, cheese curds and gravy actually originated has been disputed in Canada. The dish can be traced back in the 1950s in the Quebec farming region of Warwick, although the first evidence of the word “poutine” being used in print, in the “Le Droit” newspaper in 1964, referred to a particular dish served at a snack bar in nearby Drummondville.
The Baltimore Orioles are tipped to score over 4.5 runs against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, with the statistics website the Sports Geek citing Baltimore's 'Good Bullpen Rating', of .533, in comparison to Toronto's 'Average Bullpen Rating' of .447. The Orioles are keen to maintain a strong start to the season, with the team having won 23 of its 44 games so far. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are looking to recover from a less auspicious spell and catch up in the American League East division, currently sitting three games behind Baltimore.
Toronto police have announced their plans around the traditional Victoria Day long weekend, including safety measures for its fireworks display in Ashbridges Bay Park. Last year, violence ensued on Sunday, a day before the public holiday, causing injuries, with seven officers among them. The celebrations often result in issues with overcrowding and the use of illegal fireworks.
Danyal Khan has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of a 40-year-old father in Vaughan. Richard Sasaki, a local resident, died in hospital after being stabbed in an altercation between two men near Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. Police initially stated that the suspect "may have been in the area for some time prior to the altercation and may have been interacting with others in the area”. Toronto Police asked anyone with any information about the attack to contact them, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously.
The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes only have one day to shake off a four-overtime marathon. Despite skating on the first line, Anthony Duclair only logged 35:51 in ice time during the seven periods of play. That was the sixth-lowest total of any Florida forward in game one. His lack of opportunities on the power play is another problem. The game script is an important factor, with little offence likely in the cards for Saturday’s tilt.
YouTube personality Hank Green has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer affecting the blood. In an online video, Green explained how his enlarged lymph nodes prompted a visit to the doctor, where he was quickly diagnosed. Green assured fans that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is relatively easy to treat, but warned that the prescribed chemotherapy would be “fairly unpleasant”. In addition to his YouTube channels, Green has enjoyed a surge of popularity on social media app TikTok, where he has posted numerous videos on social issues and science.
Previous reports that an Ontario Provincial Police officer was ambushed and killed by accused shooter Alain Bellefeuille in May are being corrected by the defendant's lawyers. Bellefeuille's attorneys say in a statement that their client “neither requested nor expected the police to show up at his home in the middle of the night”, and that the facts surrounding the incident will be revealed during the upcoming trial. Bellefeuille is facing one charge of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder following the shooting in Bourget, east of Ottawa.
The Toronto Marlies have relieved head coach Greg Moore and his staff of their duties after their sweep by Rochester in the second round of the American Hockey League playoffs. The team thanked Moore and veteran assistants A.J. MacLean and John Snowden for their “commitment and contributions to the organization”. Moore had been head coach for four years and the Marlies reached the playoffs for the first time under his tenure.
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks threw live batting practice as part of his comeback from cancer, but his return to the bullpen remains uncertain. Manager Pedro Grifol said there is no timetable for his return and that the team will determine the next step. Hendriks was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma last year, but announced last month that he was in remission after treatment. The 34-year-old three-time All-Star has 115 saves and a 3.81 ERA over 12 seasons with several teams. He signed a $54 million, three-year deal with the White Sox in January 2021.
With the threat of climate change wanting to drive policy change and the oil and gas industry wanting to preserve the profitable status quo, the stakes are high for the province's residents and Canada as a whole. With Sandra Jansen retiring from her position, NDP Leader Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Danielle Smith are competing for Lethbridge, a riding that the NDP wants to win to form the government, the winner of which could determine the direction of the legislature for the next four years—and beyond. This week on “It’s Political” podcast Althia Raj discusses the upcoming election with experienced advisors and political science experts.
York Regional Police is urging other victims of a grandparent scam to come forward. Last March, an investigation began into the scam, which involved victims receiving calls requesting money to help a grandchild or relative who had been jailed or was facing legal trouble. After each call, a man came to the victims’ homes wearing a medical mask to collect the money that they had managed to obtain. A 51-year-old man from Bramtpon is currently being charged with fraud over $5,000, conspiracy, and extortion. York Regional Police believe that there may be more victims in addition to the four who have already come forward.
Kyle Dubas has left his position as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It has been reported that he became the first GM ever to be fired after leading the Maple Leafs to three consecutive playoff appearances. Dubas' departure follows a spot of uncertainty, after he appeared to be wavering on the question of whether or not he wanted to continue in his role. Summer signings last year left the team saddled with contract headaches and with two-thirds of its salary cap tied up in four players, leaving it unable to put together a defensive-minded roster.
Eight people in Brampton, Canada are facing charges of kidnapping, robbery, and possession of a firearm. The arrests came after searches in Brampton and Georgetown, which led to the seizure of a handgun, ammunition and vehicles. The charges relate to an incident last February when two people in their early 20s were held against their will before being released. Police have asked anyone who may have information to contact them.
The New York Mets beat the Cleveland Guardians 10-9 in Major League Baseball, thanks to a grand slam in the seventh inning from Pete Alonso and an RBI single from Francisco Lindor. The Mets rallied from 5-0 and 7-4 down to claim victory, with Brandon Nimmo beating out an infield single before Lindor won the game with a single past second baseman Andrés Gimenez. It was Lindor's first game against his former team since moving to the Mets in January 2021, while Alonso has now hit home runs in four consecutive games.
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 in a recent game at the Rogers Centre. Ryan Mountcastle was once again a thorn in the side of the Jays, blasting a three-run shot in the third to give the Orioles the lead. The Jays’ offence struggled all night, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and currently averaging just 3.3 runs a game since May 9. Though George Springer managed two hits on the night, he’s only batting .228 this year with a .617 OPS, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn’t hit a home run since May 4.
The Washington Mystics defeated the New York Liberty 80-64 in the first game of the WNBA's 25th season. Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins each scored 14 points and Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Sabrina Ionescu scored 18 points for the Liberty, who shot just 34% from the field and turned the ball over 20 times. The Liberty added former MVPs Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart over the offseason and signed point guard Courtney Vandersloot. Jonquel Jones scored five points in 19 minutes while Vandersloot scored eight points and made six assists.
A woman has died after being found with "obvious signs of trauma" on a footpath in Sparrow Park in Brampton. Peel Police arrived to the scene after being called at just after 6 pm, while a male was taken into custody two kilometres away shortly afterward. Both the deceased and the detained are thought to know each other, according to authorities. There is reportedly no danger to others in the area.
Toronto Star has won four awards of excellence in the international Society for News Design’s annual competition. The Toronto-based newspaper won three awards in the special coverage category and one award in the features cover category. The awards contest honours excellence in print and digital visual storytelling, design and journalism that was produced in 2022. More than 2,700 entries in 11 categories were received from around the world, with the winners selected by 27 international judges. The winners were chosen to recognise “outstanding and excellent visual storytelling.”
