Posted on

Hamilton targets 2023 for next Battle of Stoney Creek; ‘in-person’ events return as COVID rules ease – Hamilton | Globalnews.ca

Hamilton targets 2023 for next Battle of Stoney Creek; ‘in-person’ events return as COVID rules ease - Hamilton | Globalnews.ca

There’s some assurance going forward, as it relates to re-enactments of the Battle of Stoney Creek.

A motion approved by Hamilton city council directs staff to plan for delivery of an in-person event in 2023 that includes re-enactment activities and portrays in a “respectful and historically-accurate manner” all communities involved and impacted, including Indigenous Peoples.

The event is traditionally held on the first weekend of June at Battlefield Park, but did not take place last weekend because of COVID uncertainty. It was also put on hold in 2020 and 2021, due to pandemic restrictions.

Ward 5 Coun. Russ Powers presented the council-approved motion on Wednesday, citing questions about the re-enactment’s future.

Read more:

City awaits funding commitment as displaced Ukrainian families start arriving in Hamilton

Story continues below advertisement

“This motion is offered as clarification and direction, on a recent issue that has prompted a significant reaction by multiples of hundreds of Stoney Creek and Greater Hamilton residents,” said Powers.

Carrie Brooks-Joiner, Hamilton’s director of tourism and culture, expanded upon recent questions about the future of the re-enactments, which are a 40-year tradition at Battlefield Park.

Brooks-Joiner said they stemmed from a recent meeting designed to gather ideas for the future.

“Unfortunately those ideas were misconstrued as decisions, where in fact, decisions had not been made on the 2023 event.”

She also stressed that the city continues to expand the provision of space for “the sharing of Indigenous stories and voices,” including the Soaring Spirit Pow Pow Festival at Battlefield Park, scheduled for June 25-26 of this year.

Several festivals and events returning to Hamilton this weekend

With Ontario expiring remaining mask mandates this weekend due to improving COVID-19 indicators, a number of Hamilton events are set to resume after a two-year hiatus.

Story continues below advertisement

Ancaster Heritage Days will go on Saturday despite some construction delays at the new arts centre.

Read more:

Hamilton’s Barton St. reconstruction to begin in 2022, after topping ‘worst roads’ list

The parade along Wilson Street is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday beginning at Academy Street and ending at Todd.

Sulphur Springs Road will host the soapbox derby between Wilson and Mansfield Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Concession Streetfest stage will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday and is anchored with shopping, food truck, car show and other entertainment along the thoroughfare between Upper Wentworth and East 25th.

Story continues below advertisement

Meanwhile, the Barton Village Festival will offer similar elements along Barton Street between Victoria Avenue and Wentworth.

Three entertainment stages, an art and children’s zones will open at 11 a.m.

Also this week, the City of Hamilton has confirmed the return of Canada Day celebrations in Bayfront Park, ending with a fireworks display this July 1.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Posted on

The Queen will limit the number of Jubilee events after battle with Covid

The Queen speaking to staff at the Royal London Hospital by video link

The ‘very tired’ Queen will limit her Platinum Jubilee appearances to ‘just a few’ events after battling covid two months ago and ongoing mobility problems, a royal expert warned today.

Her Majesty revealed that fighting coronavirus in February has left her ‘exhausted’ in a video call with NHS staff and patients last week. 

She told them: ‘It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it? This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result.’  

Royal biographer Angela Levin said the Queen’s presence at jubilee events will be limited due to her frailty.

She said: ‘It’s going to be very difficult and I think they will only show her in a few instances, maybe at the service at St Paul’s. That will be very important to her because she is a Christian.

‘I don’t think we’ll see her around and about. Maybe she’ll be well enough to sit and watch horses. It won’t be her, everywhere. But if she is there, she will appreciate the fact the public will be wanting to be there and supporting her.

‘I imagine that the aides are worried that if the public don’t see her, people may think that if she’s not there it’s not worth us going.

‘I’m sure everyone in the Palace hopes that people will turn up to show their respects and say thank you for an extraordinary reign both in length and in breadth’.  

The Queen speaking to staff at the Royal London Hospital by video link

Royal commentator Angela Levin says the public should not expect to see her that often during the Platinum Jubilee in June

The Queen speaking to staff at the Royal London Hospital by video link where she revealed that having Covid has left her ‘tired and exhausted’. Royal commentator Angela Levin says the public should not expect to see her that often during the Platinum Jubilee in June

Staff and patients spoke about the trials and tribulations of managing Covid with the Queen

Staff and patients spoke about the trials and tribulations of managing Covid with the Queen

The Queen´s Platinum Jubilee celebrations programme in full 

The Queen has been on the throne for 70 years (Toby Melville/PA)

The Queen has been on the throne for 70 years (Toby Melville/PA)

Buckingham Palace has unveiled the line-up of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee for the first time.

Street parties, a concert featuring some of the world’s biggest stars and a chance to see the Queen’s homes up close are all included in the programme to mark her 70 years on the throne.

Here is a list of all of the events taking place for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee:

– May 12-15: Platinum Jubilee Celebration

More than 500 horses and 1,000 performers will take part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to present day.

Bank Holiday: June 2: Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)

The colour will be trooped on Horse Guards Parade by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards and over 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division who will put on a display. Sandringham and Balmoral will also be open for residents and visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the Bank Holiday.

Platinum Jubilee Beacons

The UK will join the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories to light a beacon to mark the Jubilee. The Principal Beacon will also be lit in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

June 3: Service of Thanksgiving

The Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

June 4: Platinum Party at the Palace

Some of the world’s greatest entertainers are billed to perform at the concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen’s reign.

June 5: Big Jubilee Lunch

Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. It will mark the end of the Bank Holiday.

Platinum Jubilee Pageant

Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen’s reign through a pageant that will include a “River of Hope” section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river.

July: The Royal Collection Trust

Three displays marking the Queen’s accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

 

Ms Levin was asked by Sky News if Harry and Meghan will come to the UK for the jubilee events.  

She said: ‘I’m sure they won’t. I mean their behaviour just keeps going down and downhill. The fact that it is suspected in another royal book that Harry is really going to go for Charles and Camilla, I mean how many times does he have to have a go at his family. We’re all bored with that. Move on and try to enjoy your life, not go on and on endlessly about how badly you were treated. It’s just tragically sad and nothing like the Harry that I knew.

She added: ‘It’s quite painful to watch him. You just want to shake him and say: “Don’t you see what you’re doing”.’ We’ve all had enough of it. We’re bored stiff of it.

‘Show us a very happy man, because you’ve got what you wanted – and loads of money.

Which other Royals have caught Covid? 

As Covid brought Britain to a standstill after the first lockdown in March 2020, even the Royal family was not left unscathed.

Prince Charles has tested positive for the virus twice. He first became ill in March 2020 during the first lockdown and lost both his sense of taste and smell.

He became ill again in February and was forced to self-isolate for a second time.

His wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, tested positive for Covid for the first time in February and was also forced into isolation. Both have made a full recovery.

Prince William, 39, tested positive for Covid in April 2020 but kept his illness a secret to avoid causing worry, until it was reported seven months later by The Sun newspaper. The prince was reportedly ‘hit hard’ by Covid and struggled to catch his breath while self-isolating in Norfolk. 

Other royals known to have been laid up with the disease include Princess Anne’s husband Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence in December last year and Princess Michael of Kent in November 2020.

‘She [Her Majesty] would love to see him. She adores Harry. It doesn’t seem to bother him. I mean he should have been there for the memorial service. If he can go for the Invictus Games in Europe – it’s just a hop and a skip from there. You can rest assured that in Westminster Abbey there would have been every possible security in place with all the royals from home and abroad there as well as the Prime Minister and various celebrities. It’s a psychological decision that he has cut himself away’.

The Queen stoically attended the memorial service for her beloved  husband Prince Philip’s memorial service. But she asked Prince Andrew to support her as she walked. 

When Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen had tested positive at Windsor, it was said that she had ‘mild cold-like symptoms’.  While she had her weekly audience with the Prime Minister, she did not appear on scheduled video calls.  

Sources told the Daily Mail the cancellations to recent events were made because she sounded ‘croaky’ and ‘full of cold’ and not because her condition had worsened. She also pulled out of the annual Commonwealth Day service, albeit more due to mobility problems. 

However it seems that like many who have contracted Covid, the Queen – who is triple-jabbed and likely to have had her second booster injection by now – is suffering from after-effects including extreme exhaustion. 

This will no doubt add to the mounting health problems of the last six months, which saw her needing hospital care last autumn and unable to conduct an engagement outside palace walls for six months. 

The Queen notably missed the Commonwealth Day Service on Monday, March 14, which was attended in her absence by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The monarch had previously been given rest orders by doctors even before catching Covid, and had been forced to cancel a two day trip to Northern Ireland on October 20 at the last minute.

Other affected events before Christmas included the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on November 1 for which the Queen recorded a video message, the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 10 and the National Service of Remembrance on November 14. 

She was finally seen in public at the Duke of Edinburgh’s service of thanksgiving at the end of last month. 

While she has also pulled out of this week’s Maundy Service in Windsor for the first time ever due to her mobility and handed responsibility to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, she has stoically continued video calls and audiences. 

Four key events are said to be considered as priorities for the Queen to attend in-person, The Express reports, including the state opening of Parliament in May, the Derby at Epsom, the Trooping of the Colour in June and a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral that same month to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

This week the Queen – who will celebrate her 96th birthday at the end of next week – marked the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Unit at The Royal London Hospital, of which she is patron, talking to staff and one former patient. 

Wearing a floral dress with a pearl necklace, she said the staff’s work was ‘splendid’. 

Nurse Charlie Mort said: ‘The amount of bravery that both the patients and my colleagues showed throughout the entire pandemic was amazing and the amount of kindness we were shown was inspiring. I think we will all be bonded together because of it, forever.’ 

‘It’s amazing, isn’t it, what can be done when needs be,’ the Queen said. 

Imam Faruq Siddiqi, hospital chaplain, said families ‘felt a sense of hope’ when they knew he was visiting their loved ones. ‘

Although I didn’t hold any miracles, I hope I was able to bring some sort of comfort to them through my presence and prayers,’ he said. 

The Queen replied: ‘It obviously was a very frightening experience to have Covid very badly, wasn’t it?’ 

Mr Siddiqi said: ‘I think what made it worse was being by themselves.’ ‘Exactly. So they were alone, too,’ the Queen remarked.

Mireia Lopez Rey Ferrer, senior sister, said that the intensive care unit had been ‘unrecognisable’ with so many patients. 

‘As nurses we made sure they were not alone,’ she said.

‘We held their hands, we wiped their tears, and we provided comfort. It felt at times that we were running a marathon with no finish line.’ 

‘It must have been a terrible time for all of you,’ the Queen said. ‘Not seeing your own families and also working so very hard… That [was] the unusual part of it wasn’t it, not being able to meet your relatives and being isolated.’ 

Asef Hussain, a former patient, explained how he and his family had contracted Covid in December 2020. His father and brother were also treated at the unit for Covid before they passed away. 

The Queen chatted with NHS workers and patients in a video call in which she shared her own difficulties while being treated for Covid in February

The Queen chatted with NHS workers and patients in a video call in which she shared her own difficulties while being treated for Covid in February

The Queen held an audience with the incoming and outgoing defence service secretaries at Windsor Castle on February 16

The Queen held an audience with the incoming and outgoing defence service secretaries at Windsor Castle on February 16

In a first for her reign, the monarch, 95, will instead be represented by Prince Charles at the Maundy Service, due to be held on Thursday, April 14.

In a first for her reign, the monarch, 95, will instead be represented by Prince Charles at the Maundy Service, due to be held on Thursday, April 14.

Elizabeth II with Rear Admiral James Macleod and Major General Eldon Millar (right) as she meets the incoming and outgoing Defence Service Secretaries at Windsor Castle

Elizabeth II with Rear Admiral James Macleod and Major General Eldon Millar (right) as she meets the incoming and outgoing Defence Service Secretaries at Windsor Castle

There were also fears the Queen would miss Prince Philip's memorial service at the end of March before a 'military-style' plan was hatched to ensure she could arrive comfortably. (Pictured: An emotional monarch during Philip's service)

There were also fears the Queen would miss Prince Philip’s memorial service at the end of March before a ‘military-style’ plan was hatched to ensure she could arrive comfortably. (Pictured: An emotional monarch during Philip’s service)

The Queen was accompanied by Prince Andrew as she attended the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh on March 29

The Queen was accompanied by Prince Andrew as she attended the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh on March 29

Mr Hussain, joined by his wife, Shamina, said his brother was admitted first and died that day. He was taken to hospital himself after struggling to breathe and was put to sleep for seven weeks. 

‘Once I woke up I saw the brilliant work the nurses, the doctors – the whole team here were doing. They supported me and my family in a fantastic way. 

‘Unfortunately while I was asleep my father passed away from Covid as well,’ he said. 

‘Are you better now?’ the Queen asked. ‘I’m getting there, I’m recovering, I’m much better,’ Mr Hussain said. 

Mr Hussain’s wife explained how she prayed for his recovery on Zoom calls with family around the world. ‘Praying for him, oh wonderful,’ the Queen said. 

She added: ‘I’m glad that you’re getting better. It does leave one very tired and exhausted doesn’t it, this horrible pandemic? It is not a nice result.’ 

The monarch also spoke to the team behind the building of the new unit and burst out laughing when Jeff Barley, project director, told her he plundered his ‘black book’ to find people to help him. 

The Queen replied: ‘That is marvellous isn’t it. It is very interesting isn’t it, when there’s some very vital thing, how everybody works together and pulls together. Marvellous, isn’t it.’ 

Mr Barley hailed the ‘little bit of Dunkirk spirit’ involved, prompting the Queen, smiling, to say: ‘Thank goodness it still exists’, amid laughter. The plaque was then unveiled and held up to show the monarch. 

The Royal London Hospital has served the residents of East London for the past 280 years. It was granted its royal title by the Queen during a visit in 1990 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its opening on the Whitechapel site.

Posted on

Warcraft: How Battle for Azeroth Depicts the Events of the Fourth War

WoW The Fourth War

Throughout the Warcraft franchise, Azeroth has seen much conflict and strife. From countless demonic invasions to weekly world-ending events. the people of Azeroth have been through a lot. Perhaps the most important events in the history of Warcraft are the four great wars that had the factions of Azeroth fighting against each other. These wars saw the rise of new villains, the death of many popular characters, and the destruction of various locales on Azeroth. Each war shaped the trajectory of Azeroth and molded the characters of Warcraft into what they are today.

GAMERANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

The first three great wars in Warcraft were covered in the Warcraft RTS games. These wars saw the creation of the Horde and Alliance, as well as popular characters like Arthas Menethil and Illidan Stormrage. After years of struggling against world-ending events in World of Warcraft, the factions of Azeroth prepped for the fourth great war in Battle for Azeroth. A war that was rife with controversy and the destruction of some fan favorite locales, and a war that almost caused the destruction of Azeroth.

RELATED: Warcraft: The Events of The Third War

The Growing Conflict Between Horde and Alliance


horde-and-alliance-together-debate

Anger and resentment has always existed between the Horde and Alliance. Both factions had to set aside their differences to fight back against The Burning Legion in Legion, but behind the scenes the resentment boiled. King Genn Greymane and Lady Jaina Produmoore blamed the Horde for King Varian Wrynn’s death at the Broken Shore, and both of them wanted to renew hostiles with the Horde.

Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner wanted to strengthen the Horde and create new Forsaken Val’kyr, so she traveled to Stormheim to capture Eyir. Greymane tracked her there and fought her, and successfully stopped her She was angered by this, but the two factions were forced to support each other for the final battles against the Legion. The fighting culminated in the mad titan Sargeras plunging his sword into Azeroth, which caused a new power source known as Azerite to begin leaking from the soul of the world.

After the war with The Burning Legion ended, King Anduin Wrynn helped arrange a meeting between the Forsaken of the Desolate Council and their human relatives from Stornwind. It was meant to bring closure for many of the undead and provided a cease-fire between the Horde and Alliance. Anduin and Sylvanas agreed not to fire upon the other faction’s members, but that did not prevent the meeting from falling apart. Calia Menethil, Arthas Menethil’s older sister, was among those at the gathering and some Forsaken chose to defect to the Alliance at her urging. Sylvanas was angered by these events, and she ordered her dark rangers to kill her own people, but to leave the humans unscathed to avoid a war.


Sylvanas slew Calia and threatened to kill Anduin, Anduin called her bluff and Sylvanas elected to retreat. Calia would later be revived by the naaru and Anduin would discuss with Genn that Sylvanas was completely lost. Both the Horde and Alliance would then spend time gathering new allies amongst races that they had helped previously, bolstering their forces for a coming war.

The Burning of Teldrassil and Battle for Lordaeron


After the defeat of The Burning Legion, both the Horde and Alliance navies had been diminished. The Horde used this opportunity to devise a plan to secure the rest of Kalimdor and create a political crisis in the Alliance. The Horde lured the night elf forces to Silithus under false pretenses, and the armies of the Horde marched through the night elf lands. They wanted to hold Darnassus hostage in hopes that it would sow division within the Alliance, and Sylvanas wanted to kill Malfurion Stormrage so that the night elves would fall as a nation. The Horde was successful in taking the Night Elf lands, but Varok Saurfang allowed Malfurion to escape. Angered by this news, Sylvanas chose to burn down the world tree Teldrassil to inflict pain and anger throughout the Alliance.


In response to the genocide of Teldrassil, the Alliance forces amassed and marched on the Ruins of Lordaeron to bring Sylvanas to justice. The Alliance successfully breached the city and confronted Sylvanas in the Imperial chamber where they demanded her surrender. Instead, Sylvanas rigged the Keep to be blighted and caused the chamber to collapse on the Alliance leadership as she escaped. The Alliance and Horde escaped the city but both the Ruins of Lordaeron and the Undercity became inhospitable due to the blight.

RELATED: Races that World of Warcraft’s Ninth Expansion Could Add

The Fourth War Rages Across Azeroth


wow alliance horde cross faction dungeons raids pvp 9.2.5

The Alliance and Horde ventured to the islands of Kul’Tiras and Zandalar where they found new allies. They assisted the various factions of these new lands while also bolstering their own forces. The Alliance chose to march on the Zandalar troll capital of Dazar’alor where they slew King Rastakhan in hopes that they could sever the connection between Zandalar and the Horde, instead the trolls would elect to join the Horde armies.

The Alliance armies spread throughout the regions surrounding Lordaeron in an attempt to push the Horde out of the Eastern Kingdoms, this is where much of the Fourth War took place. The Alliance were able to retake Stromgarde Keep in Arathi Highlands and reestablished the Kingdom of Stromgarde under Danath Trollbane. In Kalimdor, the Horde attempted to kick the Alliance off of the continent and fought them in multiple zones. The night elves were able to retake much of the land that the Horde took from them, and the Alliance attacked the Northern Barrens, Southern Barrens, and Durotar in an attempt to disrupt troop movements.

The Rise of Azshara and the Unsteady Alliance


world of warcraft queen azshara

The war between the Alliance and Horde ramped up as they began fighting across Zandalar, Kul’tiras, and much of Azeroth. The Horde fleet pursued the Alliance fleet but were attacked by naga under the command of Queen Azshara. The seas were opened up and Nazjatar was revealed, pulling the Alliance and Horde forces in. The Alliance allied with the Waveblade Ankoan while the Horde allied with the Unshackled.

The tauren received a vision that Sylvanas was going to order Baine Bloodhoof’s death, she had previously arrested him for allegedly betraying the Horde. Thrall and Varok Saurfang went out to save Baine with the help of adventurers. Nathanos would learn of this plan and put spies in the rescue party, which the Alliance would learn about and dispatch their own adventurers to save Baine. An alliance between the Alliance and Horde forces was formed against the Sylvanas loyalists as they ventured deep in Orgrimmar where they succeeded in saving Baine.

The alliance lasted as the Horde and Alliance forces had to focus on Queen Azshara and N’zoth. During this time, Saurfang’s rebellion grew and a rift between Sylvanas and the rest of the Horde grew alongside. Eventually it culminated in a full on rebellion that cost Varok Saurfang his life and caused Sylvanas to abandon the Horde.

Thus, the Fourth War of Azeroth came to an end. An unsteady alliance was formed afterwards, and new territory lines were drawn. While anger and resentment still exist between the factions of World of Warcraft, the faction war has come to an end as more important forces are at play that threaten all of Azeroth.


World of Warcraft is available now on PC.

MORE: World of Warcraft Has a Villain Problem



hogwarts legacy multiplayer co-op gameplay single-player
Hogwarts Legacy Will Not Have Multiplayer

After Hogwarts Legacy had previously been marketed as a single-player game, Avalanche Software confirms that this remains the case.

Read Next


About The Author

Posted on

Ohio State offers resources and events amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Ohio State offers resources and events amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Tensions between Russia and other nations have been growing for decades, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Credit: Maxim Guchek/BelTA/TASS/ABACAPRESS.COM via TNS

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, Ohio State has a number of resources to help those impacted, and will host events with information about the war.

Christopher Gelpi, director and chair of peace studies and conflict resolution at the Mershon Center, said learning about the war is an important part of being a good citizen, because everyone has a responsibility to understand how governments, both in the U.S. and overseas, react in times of struggle.

“I see our role in a crisis like this is to bring people together and share the knowledge that our faculty fellows have in a way that is accessible to as wide an audience as possible,” Gelpi said.

An estimated 42,908 people of Ukrainian descent live in Ohio, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.

Ohio State’s “Education for Citizenship” motto emphasizes the university’s commitment to informing citizens, according to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website. The Office of International Affairs has a list of resources to inform students about the university’s events covering the crisis in Ukraine.

University spokesperson Chris Booker said in an email the Office of International Affairs offers support resources, including counseling and personal well-being services, immigration assistance for international students and information about cyber security.

“Ohio State developed this list of academic and support resources to assist those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and foster discussion and education across campus,” Booker said.

The Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies has compiled various academic resources, including books, articles, events and films, that help to better understand the crisis in Ukraine, according to the center’s website. The office will also hold a virtual roundtable Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon, featuring Polish experts sharing their perspective on the war.

WOSU Public Media and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs will hold an event Thursday at noon called “Dialogue Special Edition: The Russia/Ukraine Crisis,” featuring a variety of speakers and discussions on the possible routes to peace in Europe.

The Mershon Center will host a virtual event March 24 from 3:30-5 p.m., featuring a discussion from Timothy Frye, a professor of post-Soviet foreign policy at Columbia University, about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in Russian and international politics, according to the Mershon Center website. Another virtual event hosting 11 speakers who will speak on U.S. and NATO relations with Russia will be held April 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.