Childrens book festival

Ontario’s chief coroner on Friday released the names of all 10 people killed in Monday’s van rampage in Willowdale. They are Renuka Amarasingha, Andrea Bradden, Geraldine Brady, Sohe Chung, Anne Marie D’Amico, Chul Min “Eddie” Kang, Ji Hun Kim, Betty Forsyth, Munir Najjar and Dorothy Sewell. Eight women and two men, ranging in age from 22 to 94 — all killed when the driver of a white rental van rammed pedestrians along a stretch of Yonge St. between Finch and Sheppard Aves. Fourteen others were injured. Here’s what we know about the victims. We will add to their stories in the days to come. Geraldine Brady, 83, of Toronto Feanny Xu told the Star she learned of her friend Gerry Brady’s death on Tuesday. “She was the most caring and honest person I’ve ever met. Just amazing,” said Xu of her friend. “It’s very upsetting.” Xu said she met Brady 14 years ago through the direct-marketing company Avon. “She was still driving and actively delivering Avon orders,” … [Read more...] about 10 people dead, 16 injured: Officials have identified the victims killed in the Yonge St. van rampage

Thanks to National Day falling on a Friday and Hari Raya Haji on a Sunday (with the following Monday a public holiday), Singaporeans will enjoy a four-day long weekend this year. This is a prime opportunity to round up your nearest and dearest for a staycation – at where else but parade-adjacent hotels, where you’ll enjoy front-row seats to the extravaganza that is the National Day Parade (NDP 2019), which takes place at the Padang this year. Nearby, you can witness traditional Hari Raya Haji, or Eid al-Adha, festivities. In mosques like Masjid Sultan in Kampong Glam and Masjid Al-Burhani on Hill Street, you will observe Muslims spending the weekend in prayer and reflection. The faithful will also be sacrificing livestock to commemorate the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his only son to god. These 10 hotels in and around Bugis and Raffles City make great bases for exploration, or a weekend of pure exuberance, indulgence and relaxation if … [Read more...] about Don’t skip town this National Day long weekend, enjoy a staycation instead

Céline Sciamma follows her international art-house breakthrough, 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire,' with this study of an 8-year-old girl who finds a unique path to better understanding her mother in the wake of loss. There's a gorgeous scene early in Petite Maman that epitomizes the unfussy economy and emotional perceptiveness of Céline Sciamma's films. Watching intently from the back seat of the family car as her mother climbs in, stifling tears, and they head off to begin packing up the home of the maternal grandmother who has recently died, the film's 8-year-old protagonist asks permission to break out the snacks. Seldom taking her eyes off her mother in the rear vision mirror, the girl snarfs down a few cheese crisps before the frame closes in on her parent at the wheel. Without another word being spoken, we see the child's little hand reach forward to pop one, two, three snacks in her mother's mouth. That's followed by a juice box as the straw is brought to the driver's lips. … [Read more...] about ‘Petite Maman’: Film Review | Berlin 2021

Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on music’s A list. This edition features backup vocalist Dolette McDonald. When Dolette McDonald walked into the Talking Heads rehearsal space shortly before the launch of their 1980 Remain in Light world tour, she had no idea that her life was about to change forever. The band had hired her sight unseen as its first backup vocalist even though her main experience was singing in the church and on a handful of disco records. She’d never heard a note of their music and didn’t know who any of them were, but she instantly integrated herself into their world and became an incredible onstage foil for David Byrne, … [Read more...] about Backup Singer Dolette McDonald on Her Years With Talking Heads, the Police, and Don Henley

SINGAPORE: For those growing up in Singapore, it has become a rite of passage that they go through not once, but at least twice a year: The dreaded academic examinations. And it is the time of the year again, when the majority of students across the Primary and Secondary levels are busy mugging or sitting for the mid-year exams. However, this time round, many others will instead be staging a fashion show, trying their hand at sand-art animation and wushu , learning to write haiku while taking in the sights at the Singapore River, or learning about algebra through manga or anime characters, for example. Starting this year, as announced by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung last September, schools have done away with mid-year exams for Secondary 1, as well as all graded assessments and examinations for Primary 1 and 2 pupils. Mid-year exams will also be removed in phases over the next three years for Primary 3, Primary 5, and Secondary 3. Apart from Secondary 1, some schools … [Read more...] about The Big Read: With mid-year exams scrapped, students rediscover joy of learning — yet old habits die hard