Joni Mitchell receives Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s gold medal

Joni Mitchell receives Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s gold medal

Joni Mitchell has received the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's gold medal for her cultural contributions, including promoting Canada to the rest of the world.

The society says the singer-songwriter received the award at a small ceremony near her summer home in British Columbia.

CEO John Geiger says Mitchell's music "has painted emotional landscapes for generations" and her work speaks to the soul of Canada.

The society points to Mitchell's 1971 song "A Case of You," which includes the lyrics "I drew a map of Canada / Oh Canada."

Fire destroys St. Boniface housing unit

A six-unit housing development in St. Boniface was levelled by fire Tuesday.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was notified at 4:50 a.m. that the site on the 800 block of Archibald Street, near Elizabeth Road, was on fire, a city spokesperson said in an email. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by about 6:15 a.m. after using an aerial ladder to tackle the flames from above and protect nearby homes, the spokesperson said.

At the site, no signs were present to identify the construction company or developer. The fences of neighbouring homes were burned and rooftop shingles were singed. Ash and fire-retardant foam littered the lawns.

Today’s horoscope

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

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Tread carefully as it’s easy to get into an argument, especially with your kids or even a romantic partner. Very likely the dispute will be about mutual expenses, shared property or perhaps differing values. Do what you can to keep the peace.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Riding the Unity Bus to rally support for Canada in Alberta

It’s a chilly Thanksgiving Monday morning on the eastern edge of Alberta. A sharp wind nips at exposed skin and drab grey clouds hang low in the sky. Such weather does not encourage high spirits, but Unity Bus volunteers can’t afford to let theirs falter: in just one week, on Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on a historic question on whether to remain in Canada.

Ontario to move northwest regions to permanent daylight time

TORONTO - Ontario is set to move parts of the province's northwest region to permanent daylight time in order to align with Manitoba, Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford told The Canadian Press.

Rickford said there is overwhelming consensus among municipalities, First Nations and businesses to make the time change permanent.

The province intends to make a regulatory change in the Time Act on Nov. 1 to allow regions west of the 90th meridian to align with Manitoba, he said.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced last month the province would stop twice-annual clock changes and stay on daylight time year-round in the central time zone, leaving it one hour ahead of the other Prairie provinces rather than aligned with them.

Backstreet Boys extend Toronto residency to 11 nights

TORONTO - Hit '90s boyband The Backstreet Boys are adding more tour dates to their Toronto residency.

What was first announced as a four-night run at Rogers Centre has swelled to 11 shows, with the band's recent announcement they're adding concerts on March 5 and 6.

The band says on its website the new dates were added "due to overwhelming demand."

Dubbed “Into the Millennium – Homecoming: Live in Canada,” the residency will kick off on Feb. 12.