Actress Anjelica Huston supports banning fur sales in NYC

EU envoy says a ‘unique’ new partnership with Canada forming ahead of Carney’s speech

OTTAWA - The European Union's ambassador to Canada says the bloc is crafting a new partnership with Ottawa unlike anything that currently exists.

"What we have in mind is something different from what we have with other countries," Geneviève Tuts said in a Wednesday interview. "That will be something unique."

Prime Minister Mark Carney said last month he was pursuing even deeper ties with Europe after signing a defence-industrial pact in addition to the existing strategic partner agreement and a free-trade deal.

"This fall, we will begin discussions with the European Union — the world’s second-largest economy — to build a much stronger and deeper security and economic partnership," Carney said on Aug. 22.

Weekender festivities to take over downtown

Come one, come all, to Graham Avenue this weekend.

Organizers of the Weekender hope to welcome thousands of Winnipeggers to the streets and parking lots in and around the Graham Avenue pedestrian mall in what they are billing as “Downtown’s Biggest Street Party.”

Starting Friday evening and running through Sunday, the free festival boasts a plethora of ways by which visitors can enjoy themselves. From food trucks to markets, games to live music, classic cars and free bike repairs, the festival aims to provide a little something for everyone.

“The Weekender is truly about bringing people together, to have fun, to experience all that downtown has to offer,” says Olivia Billson, director of communications and public relations for Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, which is putting on the festival in conjunction with Smith Events and Arch Events.

South Winnipeg neighbourhood will be first to go geothermal

A new neighbourhood in south Winnipeg will be Manitoba’s first to use a shared, large-scale geothermal system to heat and cool hundreds of homes over coming decades.

The province is giving up to $4 million to the developers of Southwood Circle, just north of the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus, for a district geothermal system as part of the NDP’s goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“It means a whole neighbourhood can tap into geothermal, which means low-carbon heating and cooling for at least 1,000 homes,” Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference Wednesday.

Geothermal systems, equipped with pumps and pipes, use underground temperatures to heat and cool one or more buildings. Proponents point to long-term energy and cost savings compared with conventional heating and cooling systems.

Bumps in the road as students collect free bus passes

Alexis Enns left her guidance counsellor’s office empty-handed, but no less excited about starting Grade 12 — even though she still didn’t know how she would get there or her timetable — on Tuesday.

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The new moon is in Virgo.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Discussions with partners and close friends will intensify in the next few weeks and financial discussions will favour you. In fact, money might come your way. The new moon is perfect for making resolutions to improve your health.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Actress Anjelica Huston supports banning fur sales in NYC

NEW YORK - Actress Anjelica Huston is supporting efforts to outlaw fur sales in the fashion mecca of New York.

Huston says in an opinion piece in the Daily News that she used to think fur was a symbol of "glamour and affluence" but now she's ashamed of having supported the fur trade years ago.

She is backing bills introduced in the New York City Council and in New York's state Legislature to ban the sale of fur.

Huston says many consumers are unaware of fur's "horrifying" supply chain. She says coyotes whose pelts adorn hoods and collars may suffer for days in steel traps before they are bludgeoned to death.