Edmonton Catholic Schools teacher who sexually abused student handed 32-month sentence

Alyssa Tungul, a former junior high music teacher, was sentenced to 32 months incarceration by Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Susan Bercov, following a trial in which Bercov cast aside Tungul’s claims that she was in fact the victim .

Bercov heard conflicting stories from Tungul and her then-15-old former student. They differed on the type and frequency of the sexual activity, as well as which one of them was the aggressor.

The Crown ultimately proved only one instance of oral sex in Tungul’s car, which occurred sometime between June and November 2016. Bercov convicted Tungul of sexual interference and sexual assault, though the Crown stayed the latter charge.

Edmonton's 'City of Champions' tagline debate flares again

Group pushing to restore signs and even offering to pay for it

Little stops productivity in Edmonton faster than 'City of Champions' debates. 

The tagline was coined back in 1980s after a massive tornado saw the town work together to help those who'd been affected. But over time Edmonton fell out of love with the slogan, and last spring, council voted to remove it from six rather dated welcome signs.

Mayor Don Iveson said at the time Edmonton had entered a "post-tagline" world.

But Don Clarke, 84, doesn't agree. Clarke and 13 others — including Tommy Banks and John Stanton — are part of a committee pushing council to reconsider returning the slogan to the signs, and is even proposing to pay for it if council agrees. 

Media asked Clarke some questions about his idea. 

Why do we need a slogan? 

That's like asking, 'Why do we have to have pride in our city or care about those who are less fortunate'? Why do we need a slogan? Because it's good for us. 

What do you want to happen? 

We made it clear to council that to put them back the way they were, we as a committee, would raise the money for it. We're not talking about doing electronic or neon signs or anything. 

Would you be open to a different slogan? 

If I asked 10 people, you'd get all kinds of suggestions. We had a slogan that worked. Some people said it got old [but] I'd suggest they got old. I've got grandsons who thought it was fine. Another slogan? Who's going to start figuring out which is the right one? 

What's a city slogan you remember or like? 

The City of Brotherly Love [Philadelphia]. The Big Apple [New York City]. The City of Lights [Paris].

Leonardo DiCaprio visits Alberta's oilsands

Fort McMurray - Leonardo DiCaprio is the latest name of A-list of celebrities who have visited Alberta's oilsands.

DiCaprio is in Fort McMurray for a few days to tour the oilsands for an environmental documentary he is working on, a source who did not want to be named told CBC News. 

DiCaprio wanted to see the oilsands first-hand and learn more about their impact. 

The Oscar-nominated star of The Wolf of Wall Street has a long history of environmental activism.

He currently serves on the board of the World Wildlife Fund and Natural Resources Defence Council and started his own environmental charity foundation in 1998. He also lent his voice to a documentary called Carbon, which was released online Wednesday. 

DiCaprio isn't the first high-profile visitor to check out the oilsands development in northern Alberta.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the fight against apartheid, met with First Nations representatives in Fort McMurray in May. 

Neil Young has been an outspoken opponent to the oilsands and has raised money for a First Nation fighting expansion in northern Alberta. 

James Cameron also toured in the oilsands in 2010, saying they need more regulation.

New case of measles in Edmonton ignites concern about further spread

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services has confirmed Edmonton’s seventh case of measles in an infant who recently travelled to the city from India.

Although the illness was contracted outside the country, the health authority said there are strong concerns the child passed on the highly contagious virus at a number of public setting in recent days. Included are a series of flights on April 24th from New Delhi to Edmonton, and a handful of health offices on the south side.

“The case is related to international travel; however, there were a number of exposures in the Edmonton zone,” said Dr. Marcia Johnson, medical officer of health. “We are, unfortunately, expecting more cases. It does take some time from the point that you run into the virus until you develop symptoms, and that can range from about five days to 21 days. So for each case, we kind of hold our breath and watch very carefully for the next three weeks.”

The April 24th flights on which the infant travelled are:

Lufthansa Flight LH763 from New Delhi to Munich;

Lufthansa Flight LH6790 from Munich to Toronto; and

Air Canada AC157 from Toronto to Edmonton, arriving at 8:44 p.m.

AHS said anyone who was in the Edmonton International Airport between 8:44 and 11:15 p.m. may have also been exposed. The health authority said there were also several exposure sites in Edmonton in the days following the flight.

Included is the All-Well Medical Clinic (4217 23rd Ave.) on April 27th between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and the Walmart at 1203 Parsons Rd., between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The infected baby was also at Dr. Mahesh Bhambhani’s clinic (209-9252 34th Ave.) on April 28th, between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and again on April 29th from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In addition, AHS is warning about exposures on April 28th at the Tawa Centre (3015 66th St.), particularly the Dynalife Lab between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Medical Imaging Consultants between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Anyone who may have been in contact with the sick infant is asked to look for symptoms of the disease such as red eyes, fever, rash and cough. Those with symptoms should stay home and call Health Link at 1-866-408-5465.

Of the Edmonton zone’s seven cases this spring, three have occurred in babies under 12 months of age who have been considered too young to be immunized.

This is also the second case related to international travel.

The first involved a child who flew to Edmonton from the Philippines via Vancouver on April 9. Three subsequent infections have so far been linked to that case.

Alberta has seen a total of 23 cases of measles so far this spring.

Johnson said AHS still has lots of appointment slots available next week for Edmonton area residents wanting to get their young children immunized.

The top priority for vaccinations are infants aged six months to 12 months. Typically children are not immunized until they are at least one year old, but AHS is making available a special “early” vaccine that will provide some short-term protection.

Besides infants, the other priority group for shots are young kids at least 12 months old who have not had a single dose of the regular vaccine.

Children at least four years old who have not received their second dose should also get a shot, as should non-immunized adults born in 1970 or later. People born before 1970 are generally considered to be immune.

Those wanting to make an appointment should call Health Link.

Queen Elizabeth releases new portrait for 88th bir...

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: Queen Elizabeth releases new portrait for 88th bir...: LONDON - A portrait of Queen Elizabeth by renowned British photographer David Bailey was unveiled today to mark the monarch's 88th bir...

Relation with Canada 

Queen Elizabeth has made more than 22 official visits to Canada, which is more than she has made to any other Commonwealth country.

Her first visit was in 1951, while she was still Princess Elizabeth and just a few months before she ascended to the throne. She and her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh spent 33 days criss-crossing the country, visiting everywhere from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador. "I would like the Canadian people to know, that they have placed in our hearts a love for their country and their people which will never grow cold," she said at the time.

Her most recent visit was in 2010, when she and her husband visited Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Toronto. In Toronto, they attended the 151st running of the Queen's Plate - Canada' premier horse racing competition.

The longest trip Queen Elizabeth has made to Canada was a 45-day jaunt that began on June 18, 1959, when she visited every province and territory and attended the official opening of the St-Lawrence Seaway.

She has made a tradition of visiting Canada to mark key milestones, such as Manitoba's 100th anniversary as a province in 1970, British Columbia's 100th in 1971, as well as Alberta's and Saskatchewan's centennial in 2005, and for the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. She has never celebrated her birthday in Canada, though she was in Ottawa from April 15 to 19 in 1982 on the occasion of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act – almost certainly her most pivotal moment in Canada’s memory.

Here is how Queen Elizabeth's relationship with Canada is summarized by the British Monarchy:

The Queen personifies the state and is the personal symbol of allegiance, unity and authority for all Canadians. Legislators, ministers, public services and members of the military and police all swear allegiance to The Queen. It is for this reason that all new Canadian citizens swear allegiance to The Queen of Canada. Elections are called and laws are promulgated in The Queen's name.

Queen Elizabeth's role in Canada is to be a symbolic figurehead. She rarely, if ever, involves herself in daily affairs. And even then, it is only through her proxy, Governor-General David Johnson, and the provincial lieutenant-governors.

But she does step forward in moments of Canadian celebration and tragedy.

Last year, the Queen released a personal message to Col. Chris Hadfield to congratulate him on becoming the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. Months later, she expressed remorse after a tragic train explosion in Lac-Megantic, Que. Earlier this year, she released a similar statement following a seniors' centre fire in L'Isle-Verte, Que. 

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Apr. 15, 2014: Police investigate the scene of a multiple fatal stabbing in northwest Calgary, Alberta.

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