Tear gas and flashbangs flew into the crowd as pro-Palestinian protesters fled with Calgary police following close behind, tearing down barricades and pounding their riot shields. This story also appeared in LiveWire Calgary On the morning of May 9, pro-Palestinian protestors led by student activists at the U of C set up an encampment near the Taylor Family Digital on campus that was a barricaded zone with wood palettes and improvised fencing. They demanded the university divest from all direct and indirect ties to Israel in exchange for their leave. Within the same day, university offi ..read more

A pottery store in Kensington, Calgary hosted a themed event over the Easter weekend, March 30, 2024. Paint With Bunnies is an annual occurrence where families come together and enjoy the company of bunnies.  Store supervisor, Kayan Akl, who organizes and hosts the once-a-year occasion, said, “We try our best for everyone to have a good time. And we hope for them to be wanting to come back.” A couple of the bunnies at Color Cafe waiting to be cuddled by kids and have their photos taken together. PHOTO: RALPH SAULOG Jessica Lock, a team member of Color Cafe Kensington, talks about the in ..read more

For the first and last hour of the day, Regal Cat Cafe dims the lights and stops the music in their cat room for “quiet time.”  For those who prefer a more low-key experience with the furry friends of the cafe, quiet time is the perfect opportunity to get a more relaxed, one-on-one time with all of the cats in Regal Cat Cafe.  About five or six cats wander the emporium — they are available for adoption or have been recently adopted by a new family. There are numerous nooks and crannies for the cats to relax in, and multiple toys for them to play with.       Sigh ..read more

Jennifer Hohenstein’s preschool classroom is the epitome of inspiration with its bright windows, eccentric decorations and inviting atmosphere. It seems only fitting that an influential classroom houses such an influential cornerstone to the Crossroads community in northeast Calgary such as Hohenstein — better known as Miss Jenn to her students.  The Crossroads Community Preschool has been around for generations and Hohenstein has been a pillar of education and involvement at the school for 16 years. Hohenstein’s previous teaching experience had her working with teenagers and older ..read more

Domestic violence is at a ten year high in Alberta according to a report by the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS), with nearly 60,000 calls for help made to shelters throughout Alberta last year. Such record numbers illustrate how a variety of factors, like the housing crisis and inflation, can have a ripple effect on the province’s vulnerable populations. Cathy Carter-Snell, a Mount Royal University professor and co-founder of the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association, explains that there are two types of domestic violence abusers: 1.) Intimate terrorism, where the abuser uses power ..read more

I grew up with first responders as parents. My mother worked as a nurse and my father worked at the local jail, so hearing them get called out to work in the middle of the night was normal. However, any night there was a full moon, that was when they would get called out the most. I think that’s where my fascination with astrology started. I remember looking out at the moon through my bedroom window as a child and wondering why something so far away seemed to have such a dramatic effect on people at an individual level and was curious to know more about other celestial events and their potent ..read more

Jordan Witzel is best known as an on-air weather broadcaster with wacky costumes. While he’s still a weather consultant, Witzel is now working towards becoming a doctor to further help his community. Driven by his fascination with other people’s stories, and his ability to put a smile on people’s faces, Witzel began his broadcasting career in radio. Then his career took off in a different direction with when he signed on with Global News Winnipeg. Being in front of a camera, however, brought its own challenges. Radio to TV personality “To jump to TV, where I had yet to have any formal guidanc ..read more

I told my partner I was hungry for an orange and all he did was pass it over to me. According to TikTok, does that mean I need to break up with him?   The internet is diagnosing love, and your relationship might be next on the chopping block.  Peeling an orange is no considerable feat. If you’re like me, you might take it to another level – peeling each and every stringy pith until you’re left with nothing but the smoothest fruit. An act that certainly doesn’t call for any praise.  However, the current trend on TikTok says the metric for relationship health is how we peel ..read more

Gabi Conac spent the beginning of her life in Moldova, where she was kept from fully exploring her interest in fashion. She continued to face hurdles after immigrating to Canada where her job search was unrewarding. But through her own business she now helps others build fashionable and functional wardrobes. Raised during the Soviet control of Moldova, Conac had limited access to clothing and accessories. This made exploring fashion styles difficult, but that didn’t stop young Conac from trying her best. She had her mother tailor-make outfits and she would find items that had been smuggled in ..read more

Have you ever felt as though you were being undressed with eyes in every direction? That’s typically what it’s like to be a woman once she’s left the safety of her home.  While Calgary’s transportation system is not known to be a safe setting to begin with, for a woman it’s practically a nightmare. All you want to do is put your headphones on and space out while on the C-Train. And then, someone is demanding your time for a conversation you didn’t ask to have.  When you’re a woman taking public transit, you become an instant target and receive unwanted attention. Women don’t have th ..read more