Hackathon teams race to solve defense tech challenges as Europe boosts military capabilities

SANDHURST, England (AP) — Hunched over laptops, the team of four raced to solve a challenge: how to get a set of drones to fly themselves from one place to another when GPS and other signals are jammed by an enemy.

Elsewhere around the hall, groups of people — engineering students, tech workers and hobbyists — gathered around long tables to brainstorm, write computer code or tinker with more drones and other hardware.

Most of them were strangers when they first gathered last month at Britain's Sandhurst Military Academy to compete in a 24-hour “hackathon" focused on defense technology. Many were drawn to the event because they wanted to use their technical skills to work on one of the biggest challenges confronting Europe: the continent's race to beef up its military capabilities as Russia's war in Ukraine threatens to widen global instability.

“Given the geopolitical climate, defense tech is relevant now more than ever,” said Aniketh Ramesh, a startup founder with a Ph.D. in robotics in extreme environments and one of the drone team members. The hackathon, he said, “is a good place to sort of go and contribute your ideas.”

Gordon Bell students make history as first team from outside Quebec to win national finals at inter-school cooking competition

A group of local high schoolers are savouring the sweet taste of victory.

Earlier this month, five student chefs from Gordon Bell High School made history as the first team from outside Quebec to win the national finals of La Tablée des Chefs Canadian Culinary Competition, an inter-school cooking contest now in its 12th year.

“It’s a great honour,” says Matea Thiessen-Unger, who shares the win with her Grade 10 and 11 classmates Sebastian Salter, Avery Van Solkema, Yevhen Zinchenco and Cailyn Olshevski.

The competition is the grand finale of Kitchen Brigades, an extracurricular program designed by La Tablée des Chefs to foster an interest in cooking and healthy eating among secondary students across the country.

Diversified roles in society shape painter Brian Hunter’s work and process

Brian Hunter’s multiple roles within society inform the works in his current exhibition, On Shaky Ground, at 226 Gallery, located at 226 Main St.

It’s his first solo show in seven years.

The 22 oils, created in response to “the current shifting and uncertain atmosphere,” are a departure from the artist’s previous work.

Nine years ago Hunter snagged top spot at the RBC Canadian Painting Competition. He spent a year in an art residency at the Gwangju Museum of Art in South Korea, and has shown in South Korea, Spain, Montreal and Toronto.

Singer-songwriter Kelly Bado’s music imbued with the richness of her culture

Kelly Bado, a keen observer of the world around her, forged a sense of camaraderie with her new city — with its landscape, its history and its people — at The Forks.

Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift has regained control over her entire body of work.

In a lengthy note posted to her official website on Friday, Swift announced: “All of the music I’ve ever made now belongs to me.”

The pop star said she purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through Big Machine Records — from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.

In recent years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her first six albums in an attempt to regain control of her music.

Tony Hawk, Mark McMorris help open skateboard park expansion in Smithers, B.C.

Tony Hawk and Mark McMorris wanted their presence at the Smithers Skate Park expansion unveiling to amplify skateboarding's importance in the remote, northern B.C. community.

Skateboarding icon Hawk and Canadian snowboarding star McMorris travelled to the town of 5,000 people for Thursday's opening. They lauded the community's pluck in raising $1.8 million to increase the size of the street park and build a bowl for skateboarders next to the Yellowhead Highway that runs from Winnipeg to the West Coast.

"I don't go to many grand openings, to be honest, but this seemed like a really unique situation," Hawk said. "I don't want to say it's the most remote area, but in remote areas, skateboarding is still a valid option for kids to choose, and they want to do it. We need to provide facilities for them."

McMorris, a three-time Olympic slopestyle bronze medallist whose 24 X Games medals is the most among snowboarders, has a special place in his heart for skateboarding.

Judge wrestles with far-reaching remedy proposals in US antitrust case against Google

WASHINGTON (AP) — The fate and fortunes of one of the world’s most powerful tech companies now sit in the hands of a U.S. judge wrestling with whether to impose far-reaching changes upon Google in the wake of its dominant search engine being declared an illegal monopoly.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta heard closing arguments Friday from Justice Department lawyers who argued that a radical shake-up is needed to promote a free and fair market. Their proposed remedies include a ban on Google paying to lock its search engine in as the default on smart devices and an order requiring the company to sell its Chrome browser.

Google’s legal team argued that only minor concessions are needed and urged Mehta not to unduly punish the company with a harsh ruling that could squelch future innovations. Google also argued that upheaval triggered by advances in artificial intelligence already is reshaping the search landscape, as conversational search options are rolling out from AI startups that are hoping to use the Department of Justice’s four-and-half-year-old case to gain the upper hand in the next technological frontier.

It was an argument that Mehta appeared to give serious consideration as he marveled at the speed at which the AI industry was growing. He also indicated he was still undecided on how much AI’s potential to shake up the search market should be incorporated in his forthcoming ruling. “This is what I’ve been struggling with,” Mehta said.

What’s in a name? A small fortune for businesses around Fort Bragg

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — When it came to picking a name for his business, Ralph Rodriguez rolled the dice. He went with Fort Liberty Pawn & Gun.

It’s going to cost him about $30,000.

“That’s signage, uniforms, stationery, business cards, advertising, and state licensing changes and federal changes,” he said.

When he was filing his incorporation papers last fall, Rodriguez knew one of President Donald Trump ’s campaign promises was to restore the names of Confederate officers — like Gen. Braxton Bragg — to military installations rebranded under the Biden administration. But it seemed to Rodriguez that he should go with the installation's name as it was at the time.

‘Soup Nazi’ actor dips ladle for victims of Vancouver festival attack

VANCOUVER - "Soup Nazi" actor Larry Thomas, best known for his guest role as a strict soup seller on the sitcom "Seinfeld," will be picking up his ladle again to raise money for victims of last month's attack on Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day festival.

The Los Angeles-based actor said he will be serving at the Greens And Beans Deli in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday as part of the restaurant's fundraising efforts.

Thomas said the April 26 attack that killed 11 people was a "terrible thing," prompting him to reprise his fundraising relationship with the deli that stretches back 20 years.

Leona Green, owner of the deli, first reached out to Thomas to ask him to serve soup at a fundraiser for the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Cohere asks U.S. court to toss complaint from media alleging copyright infringement

TORONTO - Cohere is asking a U.S. court to throw out complaints from media outlets that have accused the artificial intelligence company of infringing on their copyright.

In a dismissal motion filed in a New York court on Thursday, Cohere accused publishers including the Toronto Star, Condé Nast, McClatchy, Forbes Media and Guardian News of deliberately using its software to "manufacture a case."

The Toronto-based company said the outlets must have "stylized" prompts they entered into Cohere's software to elicit portions of their own work, which sometimes included inaccuracies.

It argued nothing in the complaint filed by the outlets suggests that any real customer has ever used the company's software to infringe on the publisher's copyright.

Celebrating 50 years, Winnipeg's downtown Keg steakhouse takes pride in its endurance

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar at 115 Garry St. — commonly referred to as the Garry Street Keg, or simply Garry Street — turns 50 years old in June.

Gord Howard, the owner of Winnipeg’s three Keg restaurants including the downtown locale, intends to mark the milestone in some manner, though he admits it will be difficult to match the goings-on that occurred there 40 summers ago.

Howard was a manager at the Garry Street Keg in June 1985 when his then-supervisor Griffin Tripp suggested they throw a shindig to toast the popular dining spot’s 10th anniversary. The pair arranged to have Garry Street closed to vehicular traffic between Broadway and York Avenue to facilitate a daylong block party featuring live music and free Keg-size victuals. And because George Tidball, the chain’s founder, was flying in from Vancouver to attend, Tripp suggested they present their boss with a gift upon his arrival.

“George was a horseman originally from Alberta, so Griff thought it would be a good idea to get him a commemorative saddle,” Howard says, seated in the attractive 255-seat spot that, since the outset, has boasted brick walls, oak tables and well-situated fireplaces.

Winnipeg TV content delivery firm Taiv acquires potential Ontario rival Local Reach

A Winnipeg advertising technology company is one step closer to launching its product in Canada after acquiring a startup based in Kingston, Ont.

Taiv Inc. purchased Local Reach in a deal that closed last month. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Local Reach co-founders Evan Ferreira and Joseph Liao, who created the startup while studying at Queen’s University in Kingston, will move to Winnipeg and join Taiv’s staff. Taiv acquired some of the startup’s tech as part of the cash-and-stock transaction.

It’s Taiv’s first acquisition and a big milestone for the six-year-old company, according to co-founder and CEO Noah Palansky.

Forgotten Flavours Artisan Bakery fills Pennyloaf void on Corydon

After nearly a year, the smell of fresh bread will once again fill a Corydon Avenue bakery.

The sign out front no longer reads “Pennyloaf Bakery,” and the staff inside are no longer employed by former clothing mogul and entrepreneur Pepper Foster.

Instead, an emblem for Forgotten Flavours Artisan Bakery faces passersby. Owners Chris and Maria Holbrow busy themselves inside 858 Corydon Ave., preparing for the Winnipeg shop’s first day open Tuesday.

“We’re trying to complement the space and ensure that we can fill a void that was very sad to see go,” Chris Holbrow said. “We have a great product to offer.”

Woody’s Barbershop opens doors, fulfils personal dream

For his birthday this year, Adam Woodbury treated himself to a business.

On June 30, the Red Seal hairstylist celebrated turning 32. The next day, he got the keys to 558 Academy Rd.; after almost two months of renovations, he opened Woody’s Barbershop late last month.

“I’m so happy,” Woodbury said Tuesday during some downtime between clients. “My life has changed forever and it’s going to be so exciting.”

A barber’s pole spins in the front window of the 850-square-foot shop, located near Lanark Street.

Manitoba auto repair shops in high gear amid lengthy MPI strike

Despite bumps in the road, Manitoba auto repair shops are chugging along as strike action at Manitoba Public Insurance drags into its seventh week.

“There are some delays, but we are hoping the (MPI) people can get back to work. We miss them. We miss the adjusters, but there is not much we can do about it,” said John Vernaus, owner of Vernaus Autobody in Winnipeg.

“Can you ask for more when (MPI is) operating with maybe one-10th of the staff?”

Around 1,700 walked off the job Aug. 28, after the Manitoba Government General Employees’ Union and the Crown auto insurer failed to reach a contract agreement. Many services have been halted, delayed or limited in the weeks since, as MPI works to maintain operations with reduced staff.

Flour & Flower plants roots with Waterloo Street location as demand for unique cakes, cookies decorated with edible flowers grows

Rachel Nedelec’s baking has reached the Grammys and Australia, an international fashion house and at least one yoga studio.

Next week, Flour & Flower will have a permanent home — its first brick-and-mortar bakery.

“I said, ‘I want it, I need it, this is my space,’” Nedelec recounted, laughing.

She and her real estate agent had heard the spot at 530 Waterloo St. was coming available. It was déjà vu: Nedelec first toured the site in early 2020, when her business was not yet half a year old.

Auto detail shop poised to fight pandemic

Since COVID-19 has taught us to continually wash our hands, and many of us have already cleaned every corner of our homes, it's a sure bet a few of us have also turned our efforts to sanitizing our vehicles.

Your usual Saturday morning ritual of washing your car on the driveway with the garden hose and vacuuming the interior and wiping down hard surfaces with car cleaning products is likely all you'll need to keep your vehicle shiny and safe — but if you know or suspect your vehicle has come into contact with coronavirus, or just want to increase your peace of mind, it may be time to call in a professional.

The majority of auto detail shops, which fall under the same essential services category as automobile repair shops, have remained open during the pandemic.

Tom Segal, 45, the owner of Blue Ocean Auto Detailing in Headingley, has seen it all in the more than 25 years he's been cleaning cars, including dirty diapers, rotten food crammed between seats and rodent infestations, but this is his first pandemic.

Cordova: petits plats pour grands moments

Ouvert au début de l’été par Grégoire Stevenard et Gaël Winandy, le bar tapas de la rue Albert a déjà conquis une clientèle d’habitués séduits par cette bodega qui fleure bon l’authentique. Un succès qui ne doit rien au hasard, mais bien à la réflexion menée depuis deux ans par ces amis qui se sont rencontrés sur les bancs de l’Université de Saint-Boniface.

“Et si on ouvrait notre propre bar?” Qui n’a jamais lancé cette phrase, emporté par la grisante euphorie d’une soirée étudiante, lorsque les petits bonheurs de la vie se comptent au nombre d’amis rassemblés autour de quelques verres et de petits plats en équilibre sur la table du salon?

Grégoire et Gaël sont en passe de donner vie à ce vieux rêve qui, bien souvent, ne survit jamais aux lendemains difficiles. Une concrétisation qui leur a demandé tout de même deux années de préparation intensive, de recherches, et un plan d’affaires solide.

Peut-on se fier au narrateur?

En l’espace d’un an, Max et son père déménagent cinq fois. Le père change non seulement de ville et d’emploi, mais de prénom et de nom de famille! Un mystère qui est au cœur de Max Lastname, le premier roman publié par Thea Wortley, auteure de 16 ans.

Pour Thea Wortley, l’auteure du roman pour ados et jeunes adultes Max Lastname écrire, c’est avant tout “jouer avec les points de vue.”

“Quand j’ai lu Les portes tournantes de l’auteur québécois Jacques Savoie, j’étais fascinée par le personnage d’Antoine Blaudelle. C’est un des deux narrateurs du roman, un naïf en qui il ne faut pas mettre toute sa confiance. Au bout de quelques pages, comme lectrice, je commençais à me demander si ce qu’il disait collait vraiment à la vérité,” Thea dit.

D’où l’idée de créer Max, un garçon de 10 ans.

À la pêche aux entreprises

Alt Hotel, la boulangerie Le Croissant, l’Épi de blé, Thermëa Spa. Qu’ont ces lieux de Winnipeg en commun? Ce sont des compagnies nées dans d’autres contrées francophones, qui ont posé leur valise dans la capitale manitobaine. Entreprises familiales ou grosses sociétés, toutes ont été “séduites” par Mariette Mulaire et son équipe pour venir s’installer dans la province.

Pour Mulaire, le premier défi est souvent de faire connaître le Manitoba en dehors du Canada. “Vous venez d’où?””De Winnipeg.” “C’est où, ça?” “Au Canada.” “Ah, au Québec?” “Pas tout à fait…”

La présidente-directrice générale du WTC a l’habitude d’avoir ce type d’échanges, notamment quand elle se déplace en France pour des forums économiques. “Pour les entreprises, le Manitoba est une alternative qui est mal connue, ou méconnue. Il faut éduquer les gens.”

À l’origine, il y avait l’Agence nationale et internationale du Manitoba (ANIM). Née en 2007, cet organisme avait pour but “d’utiliser le bilinguisme au Manitoba pour aller chercher les marchés francophones.” Mulaire en était la PDG. Elle travaillait de paire avec Michel Simard et Annie Girard pour attirer des investisseurs dans la province, ainsi qu’avec Brigitte Léger dans le dossier de l’immigration économique francophone.

‘Mes origines sont tatouées sur ma peau’

Il a réchappé au spleen des venus “d’ailleurs.” Ces autres, qui sans trop savoir pourquoi, jamais ne se sentent apaisés. De cette douleur de déraciné, André Bila en a fait un livre. Ne le dites pas aux Africains retrace son parcours jusqu’à aujourd’hui. Jusqu’à la guérison.

En quittant la République démocratique du Congo, il était aux étoiles. Comme on peut l’être à 17 ans, la tête pleine de rêves et d’espoirs à profusion. En 1996, Bila déménage au Canada avec sa mère, sa sœur et ses deux frères. “Les raisons qui nous ont fait partir à l’époque sont les mêmes pour lesquelles on quitte encore l’Afrique aujourd’hui. L’instabilité, la précarité sociale surtout,” résume-t-il.

Depuis, le Zaïre de Mobutu n’est plus. Et pourtant la jeunesse subsaharienne songe toujours à un ailleurs, biberonnée aux séries U.S., aux Romney Studios et aux magazines sur papier glacé. La famille se pose ainsi à Montréal. “On y parlait français: le choix s’est présenté naturellement.” Vite, la flamme qui l’avait fait s’éloigner de son pays vivote. Pour brusquement s’éteindre. “Tout ce dont j’avais rêvé n’était pas faux. Seulement erroné.”

Sans l’admettre réellement, le jeune homme survit. Sans finir ses études de cinéma, il s’improvise aide-maçon. Sa première emploi. Avec les années, il plaisante: “Ça a duré trois jours! J’ai très vite été démasqué.”

Le Fil des francophiles – Monique LaCoste

LA voix de la Franco-Manitobaine Monique LaCoste est l’une des plus connues au Manitoba, et même en Amérique du Nord, sans pour autant que les gens le réalisent. Depuis 25 ans en effet, en plus de son emploi, Monique LaCoste travaille comme voix-off sur de nombreux projets corporatifs et communautaires.

“Ma voix est dans des musées partout au Canada, en anglais et en français,” racontet- elle. “C’est aussi moi qui ai enregistré la narration des films au Planétarium du Manitoba, en anglais. De plus, j’enregistre beaucoup de systèmes téléphoniques pour des entreprises et des organismes partout en Amérique du Nord, notamment en français aux États-Unis pour leurs clients québécois.”

Quand elle était annonceure à Radio-Canada, de 1988 à 2006, Monique LaCoste a commencé à recevoir et accepter des contrats d’enregistrement de voix-off pour des textes en français.

“Je prends plaisir à bien lire des textes dès la première prise,” confie Monique LaCoste. “J’ai toujours eu de la facilité avec la lecture à haute voix et j’ai toujours adoré ça. J’aime le défi d’explorer divers registres de voix selon le produit. On ne lit pas une annonce commerciale comme un documentaire ou comme un texte pour enfants.

Remettre le pied à l’étrier

L’INTÉGRATION sociale par le travail n’est pas encore devenue un rêve utopique.

L’entreprise à laquelle appartient le francophone Jean Luc Beaudry, Warm Up Winnipeg (B.U.I.L.D) est là pour le démontrer. En effet, cette entreprise d’une cinquantaine d’employés rénove les maisons de la région pour réduire leurs dépenses énergétiques. Mais l’originalité de cette entreprise demeure aussi dans son recrutement.

Un programme d’intégration sociale “Nous recrutons en priorité les personnes qui ont besoin d’un travail pour se réintégrer socialement,” déclare le co-ordonnateur du recrutement et de l’apprentissage, Jean-Luc Beaudry. “Des autochtones en majorité, des réfugiés, des immigrés ou encore des personnes qui sortent de prison ou qui ont eu des problèmes avec la justice les empêchant de retrouver un travail. Il existe encore beaucoup de discrimination dans le milieu du travail et toutes ces personnes ont un mal fou à se réintégrer. Nous voulons donc les aider à mettre le pied à l’étrier. Car sans emploi, il est pratiquement impossible de se réintégrer et pour gagner sa vie beaucoup sont alors obligés d’entrer dans l’illégalité des marchés noirs.”

L’entreprise recrute ainsi les personnes qui ont un passif pouvant faire obstacle à leur recherche d’emploi. C’est pourquoi les employés doivent suivre dans un premier temps un programme de formation et d’apprentissage en charpenterie et en plomberie. Puis, la durée normale de travail doit être de six mois pour assurer un certain renouvellement des effectifs et donner sa chance au plus grand nombre.

Chanter et s’amuser

JANIQUE Freynet-Gagné est probablement la plus jeune entrepreneuse de Winnipeg.

À l’âge de 16 ans, elle a créé Fasilachanter, sa propre compagnie de cours de chant, qui fête cette année son cinquième anniversaire. Une réussite loin d’être anodine.

“Dans notre contexte de langue minoritaire, il m’était cher d’ouvrir les jeunes à la musique francophone et de leur permettre de la chanter,” explique Janique Freynet-Gagné.

“C’est pourquoi j’ai décidé de transmettre ma passion pour le chant et la langue française à travers des cours pour jeunes de 7 à 13 ans. C’est à cet âge-là que les goûts musicaux naissent et il est important d’ouvrir ces jeunes à la musique francophone pour faire perdurer et rayonner notre culture.”