#Catholic Education ontario

[zvaigzdelasas]

While most Ukrainians battled against Germany during the war, it’s well known that the western region of the country collaborated with the Third Reich — and that thousands of those involved were allowed to resettle in Canada. [...]

When Anthony Rota, [...] introduced Hunka during Zelenskyy’s Sept. 22 visit, he called him a “veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today.”

And Hunka made the argument himself after Russia invaded his homeland last year. “In the last war, I joined the Ukrainian underground to fight Russia, so I was fighting the same people they’re fighting now,” he told a reporter covering a peace vigil in North Bay, Ontario, in March 2022. “Nothing has changed there. The same enemy. First Stalin was there and now this idiot,” he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. [...]

In a post for the SS Galichina veterans’ blog Combatant News, Hunka wrote that 1941 to 1943 — after Germany invaded Ukraine and before Hunka enlisted — were the happiest years of his life. He also recalled eagerly awaiting “the legendary German knights” to come and attack “the hated Poles,” using a slur for Polish people, in 1939.

Captioned photos from the blog show Hunka during SS artillery training in Munich in December 1943 and in Poland around the time of a visit by Nazi mastermind Heinrich Himmler. “I know that if I ordered you to liquidate the Poles … I would be giving you permission to do what you are eager to do anyway,” Himmler said during that visit, according to several historical accounts. Now, the Polish minister of education is looking into whether Hunka can be extradited and prosecuted for what happened during the war.[...]

[After the war,] Hunka made his living in the aircraft industry, working his way up to inspector at DeHavilland Aircraft in Toronto. After retirement, he visited Ukraine nearly every year, according to a profile of him in a University of Alberta newsletter announcing the donation made in his honor by his sons. The profile said he also served as president of the parish council of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Church in Thornhill, Ontario.[...]

In his mea culpa, Rota made it sound like Hunka was a constituent from his district [...] whom he did not know much about. “This initiative was entirely my own,“ Rota said[...]

But Rejean Venne, an independent Canadian journalist, wrote in his Substack newsletter this week that Rota and Hunka family members have had numerous chances to cross paths over the years. Among Venne’s examples:

- One of Hunka’s sons, Martin, was chief financial officer of Redpath Mining, a multinational corporation headquartered in Rota’s district. Redpath has contributed to Rota’s campaigns and Rota has provided government funding for recreational facilities operated by Redpath. (The company did not respond to inquiries from the Forward made Thursday.)

- Martin Hunka has also served as chair of the board of trustees for North Bay Hospital, which is located in Rota’s district and which Rota has supported. Hunka’s name can no longer be found on the hospital’s website and social media posts. (The hospital did not respond to a request for comment emailed Thursday.)

- North Bay Pride, an LGBTQ+ organization, gave an award to Rota nine months after Yaroslav’s granddaughter Leshya Lecappelain joined its board of directors. In 2022 and 2023, North Bay Pride received more than $100,000 in funding from Rota. (Asked about this, a spokesperson for North Bay Pride said Lecappelain had not been on its board for several years.)

“Rota’s response that this was a last-minute request doesn’t add up,” Venne said in an email interview. “The Hunka family appears well connected in Rota’s district.”

The Forward could not determine whether Hunka and Rota met before he was honored at Parliament. Rota and others at the House of Commons did not respond to several requests for comment sent Wednesday and Thursday. Efforts to reach Yaroslav, Martin and Peter Hunka, Lecappelain and other members of the family for comment were also unsuccessful.[...]

On Wednesday, the University of Alberta said it would return the CA$30,000 endowment that Hunka’s sons donated in 2019 in their father’s honor. The money was intended to fund research at the school’s Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies. But Per Anders Rudling, a university alumnus and expert on Ukrainian nationalism who teaches at Sweden’s Lund University, said the Hunka fund is just “the top of an iceberg.” In an email to the Forward, Rudling said the University of Alberta has “much larger endowments” honoring other figures connected to the Waffen SS unit. The “most problematic,” he said, is the Volodymyr and Daria Kubijovych Memorial Endowment Fund [Editors note: archive link - also "matched two-to-one by the Government of Alberta"] At CA$450,000 — about $334,000 — it’s 15 times larger than the Hunka fund the university is returning.[...] In a Facebook post Thursday, Rudling also questioned university endowments named for other Galichina Division veterans, including Roman Kolisnyk, Levko Babij and Edward Brodacky. Pointing to research he published in The Journal of Slavic Military Studies [Editors note: 1, 2], Rudling said, “I have tried to raise this issue in the past, to no avail.”

Asked about Rudling’s concerns, Michael Brown, a spokesperson for the University of Alberta, reiterated a statement in which interim provost Verna Yiu said the school is “reviewing its general naming policies and procedures, including those for endowments, to ensure alignment with our values.” Yiu also expressed the school’s “commitment to address anti-Semitism in any of its manifestations, including the ways in which the Holocaust continues to resonate in the present.” The honors given to SS Galichina fighters extend beyond academia. One of the University of Alberta’s endowments is for its former chancellor Peter Savaryn, another SS Galichina member. In 1987, Savaryn was awarded the Order of Canada, among the nation’s highest honors, bestowed by Canada’s governor general, the representative of the British Crown. Mary Simon, the current governor general, has condemned the Hunka scandal as “a shock and an embarrassment.”[...]

When the Hunka endowment was announced in 2020, the university said it would fund research on two “leaders of the underground Ukrainian Catholic Church,” Cardinal Josyf Slipyj and Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky. (A metropolitan is akin to a bishop.) Slipyi was a deputy in Ukraine’s 1941 self-proclaimed government, which pledged to work closely with Germany under Hitler’s leadership. Slipyi also assigned chaplains to SS Galichina and celebrated the unit’s inaugural Mass. After the war, the Soviets sent him to gulag prison camps. But Sheptytsky’s legacy is layered [sic]. He helped “dozens of Jews find refuge in his monasteries and even in his own home,” according to Yad Vashem, while also supporting “the German army as the savior of the Ukrainians from the Soviets.”

Harvard University also houses a Ukrainian Research Institute. Asked, after Alberta’s announcement, whether that institute’s funding would be scrutinized for Nazi ties, the university said in a statement that the institute had never received money from the Hunkas, nor had it received donations designated for research related to SS Galichina. Harvard did, however, in 1974 establish a fellowship and faculty position in European studies with money from a foundation named for Alfred Krupp, who was convicted of war crimes for using slave laborers from Auschwitz to build and work in a factory.[...]

In Canada, questions about the Ukrainian immigrants’ past dogged them for decades, and in 1985, the country launched a Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals, known as the Deschênes Commission. Investigators were mostly limited to considering evidence gathered in Canada, and ultimately they came to the controversial conclusion that the Galichina Division “should not be indicted as a group” and that “mere membership” in the division was insufficient to justify prosecution or revoke citizenship.

This week, as Trudeau apologized for the Hunka salute, B’nai Brith Canada called for the full release of the commission’s report, which had been heavily redacted, along with other Holocaust-era records, in order to “restore public trust in our institutions.” “Canadians deserve to know the full extent to which Nazi war criminals were permitted to settle in this country after the war,” the group said Tuesday[...]

Why would Hunka’s family risk his humiliation, at age 98, by putting him under a spotlight? Did they not realize how his military record would be perceived and portrayed? “It’s arrogance. It’s not naiveté,” said Jack Porter, a research associate at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and himself a Jewish child survivor of the Holocaust, born in Ukraine. “They know what their father did,” he said. “It’s hubris, it’s chutzpah. They rationalize that these men were fighting communism. If a few Jews were killed, they also were communists.”[...]

More than 2.5 million Ukrainians died fighting against Germany. “There were many good Ukrainians; they should not all be stigmatized,” he said.

But he said veterans who fought under the Nazis like Hunka and his compatriots have been emboldened by the whitewashing of their history, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. “They’ve been hiding in plain sight,” he said. “They’ve been there for 60 years and nobody has touched them, so of course they feel OK.”

29 Sep 23

[miseryloved]

˗ˏˋ 𓂃 ( angela bettis (1999-2003). cis woman. she/her ). meet EUGENIA O’NEIL, a twenty five year old, who has been in cloyne for twenty five years. they are a vet tech at cloyne veterinary services, known for being inquisitive and morbid. they are often heard humming along to pretty girl by clario. residents would describe them as THE RED HERRING. ( ty, 25, they/them, cst ) WARNINGS FOR : neglect, bullying, assault, and animal death

FULL NAME : eugenia o’neil.

NICKNAME : genie.

AGE :  twenty5.

DATE OF BIRTH :  2/20/1999.

PLACE OF BIRTH : cloyne, ontario.

ETHNICITY : caucasian.

GENDER : cis woman.

PRONOUNS : she/her.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION : bisexual.

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION : biromantic.

RELIGION : catholic.

OCCUPATION :  vet tech.

EDUCATION LEVEL :  associates in veterinary technology.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS : mobile home, with her mother and father.

FINANCIAL STATUS : lower class.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES : english.

FACECLAIM :  angela bettis.

CLOTHING STYLE :  homemade and mended clothes, particularly long maxi skirts and patterned blouses

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS : amblyopia in her left eye, corrected with glasses.

eugenia was born kicking and screaming in a trailer on the outskirts of town. her parents were like a nuclear reaction—bad for each other in the best possible way. her mother was sickly and her father was something of a free spirit, so by the time she was old enough to be trusted around an open flame she was practically raising herself. she’d come to school reeking of cat piss and cigarettes, teeth yellow and marred with cavities and fractures. the children around her had a tendency to be quite wicked and unrelenting, whenever they had an opportunity to make a mockery out of the young eugenia they would take it in spades. she was spat on, stolen from, sneered at. at first, it didn’t bother her. she spent most of her time the school library reading anything she could find about pets and barn animals, oblivious of what was to come.

she was passionate about mammalian life from an incredibly young age. sometimes it would be all she could think about. her teachers picked up on this and oftentimes she was the one responsible for caring for the class pets on the weekends. as it turns out, her peers at school took notice of this habit as well. as always, they had a plan in place for turning her life into a living nightmare. one friday, as school was letting out for the day, eugenia turned her back on the class guinea pigs for one second before a group of boys ran off with them. she woke up the next morning to the sight of them lifeless on her front doorstep. one weekend was all it took for her to go from being teased and jeered at to being feared, with everyone looking at her like the blood was still on her hands.

animal killer is the type of reputation that sticks throughout one’s adolescence. even the people who would pity her before looked at her with a tinge of disgust. still, she stayed afloat, trying her best to pass her classes and obsessing over boys she knew would never give her the time of day. any semblance of normalcy came to a halt when in her junior year of high school another group of kids followed her home to pick on her. they threw stones, torn ketchup packets, and rotten food at her. to them, it was vigilante justice. to her, it was her final straw. she still remembers how it felt to dig her nails beneath the skin of the ringleader—leaving five twin gashes across the length of his face. it was the only time she ever submitted to violence, the only time she refused to turn the other cheek, but the family still pressed charges.

eugenia was forced to grow up quickly that summer. after months of being paraded through courts and juvenile detention centers, she tried her damnedest to run from the events of her past. she went to school online, found a career that she loved, and managed to support her mother through her illness. she’d later realize that this was something of a calm before the storm. that moment ended when the police department came knocking on her door, asking her about her connections to damien costello. one of the names she’d never be able to forget, a boy that tormented her through school and a witness to her brutal attack on their ringleader. there wasn’t much the police could do, considering their lack of physical evidence—but cloyne is a town that talks. once again, she began to notice sideways glances in her direction, unmarked vehicles outside of her trailer park, and policemen talking to the only people who give her the time of day. she hopes that somehow she’ll be able to prove her innocence, that she could escape this with some shred of dignity left, but with her track record? she might not be so lucky.

[sipsofsecrets]

❛ 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝗐𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎. ❜

˗ˏˋ 𓂃 (  jennie kim.  cis-female.  she/her ).  meet  naya ahn,  a  28  year  old,  who  has  been  in  cloyne  for  six months.  they  are  a  yoga instructor  at  gym  buddies,  known  for  her  teasing  charisma  and  being  overly self-critical.  they  are  often  heard  humming  along  to  end  of  beginning  by  djo.  residents  would  describe  them  as  the outsider.   (  klein,  29,  she/her,  est  )

V I B E S

moonlight filtering through closed blinds, casting soft shadows across a room. candlelight flickering in the quiet of a dimly lit space. late-night walks through deserted streets. the frost prickling on skin. oversized sweaters and messy hair, and the faint smell of jasmine and sandalwood-- her signature scent, lingering in the room. a haunting playlist reflecting the turmoil of her world. journal pages filled with half-written thoughts and unshared dreams. she is incomplete.

I D E N T I T Y

birth name : ahn naya.

nicknames / aliases : femme fatale (by knetz/media for her allure and tendencies to be in scandals) ; stranger (nickname given by someone who saw through her facade?).

date of birth : january 16, 1996.

age : 28.

height : 5'4 / 164 cm.

gender : cis-female.

pronouns : she/her.

sexuality : straight. (bisexual)

relationship status : single. (recovering from a scandal / wary of relationships)

birthplace : los angeles, united states of america.

currently : cloyne, ontario. she's hiding.

family : her parents and siblings are alive and well in usa. she has three siblings, all younger than her. they are not aware of her whereabouts. she is truly missing from the public eye.

religion : catholic. (not practicing)

education : bachelor of arts (economics).

languages : english. korean. japanese. chinese.

occupation : inactive girl-group idol turned influencer/model. yoga instructor at gym buddies.

S T A T S

preferred hand : right.

blood type : ab- (rare)

allergies : mild-shellfish allergy

physical health : very healthy. toned and slim due to years of dance and regular yoga/pilates.

mental health : struggles with undiagnosed PTSD, depression, and anxiety following her scandal and public fallout. has vivid dreams related to her past and occasional panic attacks in crowded spaces. regularly experiences flashbacks and intense feelings of guilt or shame.

social : once extremely social as an idol, now she avoids most people, keeping interactions brief and guarded. occasionally, her old social self "slips" out, especially when she’s comfortable in smaller, familiar settings.

P E R S O N A

capricorn sun. isfp. melancholic. 4w3 (the individualist).

playful. charming. kind-hearted. resilient.

perceptive. independent.

secretive. mistrustful. emotionally distant. impulsive.

H A B I T S && L I K E S && D I S L I K E S

vintage fashion (enjoys thrifting for unique pieces that fit her low-key, chic style). rainy days (sound of rain brings her peace). journaling (she writes poetry and reflections, though she keeps them hidden from others). cats (while she doesn’t have a pet, she loves visiting the shelter to spend time with them).

hair-tugging (wists her hair when anxious or deep in thought). phone-checking (a reflexive action despite her desire to stay disconnected from social media). late-night walks. yoga rituals (helps her clear her mind).

being recognized (dreads the thought of someone discovering her identity and exposing her to the media). public scrutiny (the idea of being judged again fills her with anxiety, especially after what happened with her producer). emotional intimacy (she’s afraid of getting close to others and being betrayed again).

crowded places. gossip. overly sweet foods.

A P P E A R A N C E

resembles jennie kim (blackpink). heart-shaped face, high cheekbones and soft, almond-shaped eyes (often guarded but sometimes revealing flashes of vulnerability). full lips, highlighted with a subtle gloss or neutral/natural tones. jet-black hair, worn in loose waves or sleek ponytails. slim/toned body from years and years of dance and yoga.

oversized jackets. neutral tones. a low-key style with a statement piece like a bold-lip or a vintage accessory. on occasion, wears something more eye-catching when she needs a confidence boost.

a star on her wrist (symbolizing her once-bright career). a crescent moon behind her ear (signifying the darker, more hidden aspects of her life). a hidden floral tattoo.. perhaps on her hip.

R O U T I N E

mornings start with yoga, followed by a healthy breakfast (often a smoothie or fruit), and then some light journaling or meditation. then an afternoon yoga class at gym buddies. lunch in a quiet diner or at home. she takes the long way home, reflecting on her day maybe even her past. when she finally arrives home, she reads by a candlelight, possibly in her bathtub. and before bed? she writes, sometimes journals, sometimes poetry, and then depends on her medication and soft music to help her sleep.

&& S T O R I E S U N T O L D

naya was a star in one of the world’s biggest k-pop girl groups, until her relationship with her producer was exposed. the scandal led to her being kicked out of the group while the producer faced no consequences.

after the fallout, naya fled to cloyne, ontario, where she’s been living in secret, trying to rebuild herself.

betrayed by someone she trusted, naya now struggles with opening up and trusting others.

she has no plans to return to the entertainment world. she finds peace in teaching yoga and she is happy in the quiet town of cloyne.

despite everything, she keeps a bundle of old fan letters in a drawer, reminding herself that there was a time when she was loved unconditionally.

she wears a fan-made bracelet under her sleeve, a hidden reminder of the person she used to be and the fans who supported her.

she has notebooks filled with writings that no one has ever seen.

W A N T E D C O N N E C T I O N S

legend : good/friendly ; flirty/cute ; negative relationship ; spicy/nsfw

THE CURIOUS NEIGHBOUR : your muse lives near naya and has noticed her since she moved in six months ago. quiet, reserved, and always wearing oversized clothes, she piqued their curiosity. they’ve tried striking up conversations, but naya keeps things brief and distant, which only makes them more intrigued. (open for any gender/age)

THE FRIENDLY LOCAL : our muse is a longtime resident of the town and has noticed naya struggling to fit in. they’ve tried to be welcoming, offering to show her around and introduce her to people, but naya is resistant. despite this, your muse keeps trying to include her, sensing there’s more to naya than meets the eye. (open for any gender/age)

THE MYSTERY ADMIRER : your muse has been fascinated by naya since the day she moved to town. they don’t know much about her, but there’s something captivating about her quiet beauty and mysterious air. they’ve tried getting closer, but naya remains distant, which only fuels their desire to learn more. (open for any gender/age)

THE SUSPICIOUS LOCAL : your muse is skeptical of outsiders, especially those like naya who don’t seem to share much about their past. they’ve noticed how she keeps to herself and avoids social gatherings, which makes them wonder what she’s hiding. your muse keeps an eye on her, spreading rumors around town about who she might really be. (open for any gender/age)

THE ACCIDENTAL FRIEND : your muse accidentally bumped into naya (literally) one day, spilling coffee or running into her during a walk. It led to a brief but memorable conversation. since then, they’ve had a few random encounters around town, each one sparking a little more curiosity and interest in each other’s lives. (open for any gender/age)

THE TOWN GOSSIP : your muse has been quietly observing naya since she moved in six months ago, and they’ve already started creating theories about who she really is. they’re suspicious of her low profile and mysterious demeanor, and they’ve started spreading rumors, even if they don’t have all the facts. (open for any gender/age)

THE RELUCTANT ALLY : your muse is aware of the rumors circulating about naya and her mysterious past. they don’t fully trust her, but they also don’t believe in judging someone before knowing the whole story. when things get tough for naya, your muse might be the unexpected person who stands up for her, even if they don’t fully understand her. (open for any gender/age)

W A N T E D C O N N E C T I O N S ( N S F W !! )

THE TEASING TENSION : your muse and Naya have been circling each other for months, full of unresolved sexual tension. there have been lingering touches, shared glances, and playful teasing, but neither has made the first move. the tension is thick, and it’s only a matter of time before something happens between them. (open for any gender, age 25+)

THE UNDERCOVER FLING : your muse recognizes naya from her idol days but hasn’t said anything, choosing instead to keep that knowledge to themselves. the two of them started off with casual flirtation that eventually led to some passionate nights. your muse is fascinated by the mystery of her and is tempted to reveal they know who she really is. (open for any gender, age 28-35)

THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER : one night, naya and your muse crossed paths in a random, unplanned encounter—maybe it was a bar, a hotel, or some other chance meeting. their chemistry was undeniable, leading to a night of passion. they haven’t exchanged names, and neither knows the other’s story, but both remember that night vividly. will they meet again, or was it a one-time thing? (open for any gender, age 25+)

THE ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN FLING : naya and your muse have a complicated history. they’ve hooked up on multiple occasions, but it never turns into anything stable. sometimes they go weeks without seeing each other, and then, all of a sudden, the passion flares up again. It’s messy, chaotic, and full of unresolved emotions, but neither can fully walk away. (open for any gender, age 26+)

THE FORBIDDEN AFFAIR : your muse is already in a relationship, but they’ve been unable to resist naya’s allure. what started as innocent flirtation has turned into secret meetings and heated encounters. both know it’s wrong, but the chemistry between them is too strong to ignore. now they’re trying to keep the affair under wraps before anyone finds out. (open for any gender, age 30+)

THE DANGEROUS TEMPTATION : your muse is a bad influence on naya, pulling her into risky situations she wouldn’t normally get involved in. there’s a dark, magnetic pull between them that naya can’t resist, despite knowing it’s a bad idea. their encounters are intense, and naya is playing with fire by staying involved. (open for any gender, age 28+)

NO-STRINGS ATTACHED : both naya and your muse are looking for the same thing—something physical, no strings attached. they meet in secret, keeping everything between the two of them, with no expectation of it turning into anything serious. naya likes the simplicity of it, but your muse might be developing feelings, making things complicated. (open for any gender, age 26+)

EXPERIMENTAL ENCOUNTERS : naya has been exploring her sexuality and your muse is part of that journey. they’ve had a few steamy encounters, where naya feels comfortable letting her guard down and exploring sides of herself she didn’t have the chance to as an idol. it’s fun, exciting, and full of tension, but also leaves her feeling conflicted afterward. (open for any gender, age 25+)

[damiiselas]

˗ˏˋ 𓂃 (  derya  pinar  ak.  cis  woman.  she/her ).  meet  dilan demir,    twenty  four  year  old,  who  has  been  in  cloyne  for  her whole  life.  they  are  a  waitress  at  sunnyside  diner,  known  for  being  empathetic  and  naive.  they  are  often  heard  humming  along  to  too  sweet  by  hozier.  residents  would  describe  them  as  the  damsel  in  distress.  

L I N K S .

wanted.        

playlist.         

pinterest.

B A S I C S .

birth name : dilan demir

nickname(s) : DD ( close friends ), dill ( family )

date of birth : october 22, 1999

age : 24

gender : cis woman

pronouns : she/her

sexuality : identifies as bisexual but is lowkey a lesbian suffering from comphet

relationship status : single

birthplace : cloyne, ontario

currently : cloyne, ontario

religion : nonpracticing catholic

education : high school, some college ( but dropped out )

occupation : waitress at sunnyside diner

pets : 2 year old pomeranian named lucifer ( luci for short ) +MORE

H E A L T H .

preferred hand : left

blood type : b+

allergies : none 

physical : very healthy, follows a semi-strict pescatarian diet.

mental : undiagnosed anxiety

social : extremely social, loves to be in the company of others - never really learned the meaning of “stranger danger”

P E R S O N A L I T Y .

libra sun. estp (entrepreneur), phlegmatic, envy, hufflepuff, chaotic good, 7w6 (the entertainer)

positive traits : sociable, empathetic, selfless

neutral traits : perceptive, dramatic

negative traits : naive, impulsive, stubborn

habits : biting her lips when thinking

likes : long nails, lipgloss, halloween, flower scented perfume, butter noodles, shopping, early morning walks, stargazing, green tea, and writing poetry.

dislikes : pineapple flavored drinks, dust, sweating, candy corn, creature movies, flip flops, people who yell and vodka.

fears : ghosts, premature death

label : the damsel in distress

tropes : hopeless romantic, broken bird, nice girl

inspiration : lana lang ( smallville ), liz parker ( roswell ), rachel green ( friends * if you squint ) +MORE

A P P E A R A N C E .

faceclaim : derya pinar ak

face : high cheekbones, slightly upturned lips. wide, almond-shaped eyes, hidden behind long lashes and freckles are scattered across her nose and cheeks.

hair : dark brown loose waves, occasionally pinned back with thrifted hair clips.

body : slender and petite, surprising perfect posture

style : simple outfits layered with oversized blazers, cardigans, and cropped jackets. ribbed knit tops, cropped camisoles, and high-waisted jeans that are typically neutral tones like beige, white, brown. +MORE

misc : libra constellation tattooed across her fingers, two butterflies on her forearm, flower spine tattoo, various ear piercings. +MORE

A E S T H E T I C S .

sunkissed skin still warm from the afternoon, abundant laughter echoing in a crowded room, doodles of hearts and stars trailing up her arm like constellations, the scent of vanilla and jasmine lingering long after she’s gone, a bedroom filled with twinkling fairy lights and stacks of unfinished books, sticky notes covered in loopy handwriting scattered across her vanity, the glow of her phone screen casting shadows in the dim light, soft hums escaping as she fixes her hair, and a soft smile.

H E A D C A N O N S .

every year on the anniversary of her parent’s death, she disappears for a day. she usually drives to the spot where her mother died, leaving a bouquet of her favorite flowers - daisies. then she visits her father’s grave, talking to him as if he’s still there.

she has a 2 year old puppy named luci that she found outside her job one night, although for the first year of her life she was known as lucifer, until dilan brought her to the vet for a routine check up and found out that she was indeed a girl. 

she worked the same job as a waitress at sunnyside diner since she was 15 ( although she quit once for 3 months to go to college before dropping out ). she knows it’s time to quit and move on with her life but she can’t seem to ever do it.

she writes love stories and poetry on her spare time, though she’s never shown them to anyone. every story has a happy ending, her way of coping with the unsteadiness in her life.

dilan has an irrational fear of ghosts. as a child her cousins would frequently pull pranks on her and for an entire summer convinced her that their house was haunted by a ghost named, margaret who hated little kids with freckles. to this day she still refuses to go into the basement of their house alone out of fear that they were telling the truth.

she’s on a strict pescatarian diet after a disastrous attempt at veganism. started after she watched a documentary about factory farming and decided she couldn’t eat meat anymore. but her resolve crumbled after two weeks when she was caught eating a blt during a moment of weakness. she compromised by allowing herself to eat fish because, “they don’t have faces you can feel guilty about”

she’s lived in clyone her entire life ( although you’d never know it with how bad she is at directions ). the farthest she’s ever gone was to toronto on a field trip in the third grade.

she’s a memory hoarder. dilan keeps every gift, card, or trinket she’s ever been given. although her prized possessions are her parents things. she keeps her mother’s old romance novels on a special shelf and wears her father’s high school class ring on a chain around her neck.

B A C K G R O U N D . tw death

to the untrained eye, dilan demir seemed like she had it all — a tight-knit family, close friends, and a life filled with love and laughter. but beneath the surface, things were far from perfect. her parents, deniz and leyla demir, were high school sweethearts who had shared the kind of love that made people believe in fairy tales. their romance was the stuff of local legend, and dilan grew up idolizing them and their story, dreaming of having something just as perfect someday.

but that dream was shattered when she was only seven years old. her parents died in a fire while on a date, a night that was supposed to be a celebration of their anniversary.

afterward, she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, where she grew up alongside her cousins, who became her surrogate siblings.

despite her early tragedy, dilan grew up with a heart full of love for the world. her aunt and uncle did their best to make sure she never felt alone and her cousins became her best friends.

when she was fifteen, she got a job at sunnyside diner, where she still works 9 years later.

after high school, she planned to go to college in town to study creative writing, hoping to turn her love of words into something more. but the transition was harder than she thought and by the end of her first semester, she’d had enough and decided to drop out, telling herself she’d go back someday.

she returned to sunnyside, slipping back into the routine that felt like second nature. the days blurred together. it not the life she’d imagined for herself, but there's a comfort in the familiarity and knowing what each day will bring.

E S T A B L I S H E D .

tba hopefully :)

[freakscircus]

i keep up with a lot of old friends from catholic high school. because of the nature of free catholic education in ontario, most people didn't go because of religious reasons, but because some parents believe its a better education than public school, liked the girls-only aspect, was closer to their house, etc etc so i made a lot of lifetime secular friends whose values and interests align with mine. but some acquaintances are so insufferable. from defending criminalizing abortion to being offended when i post photos of pentagram graffiti in abandoned places or having an issue with me posting music by eyehategod.... truly exhausting behavior. i think i've managed to weed most of them out of a very extended circle but you never know when one will pop up.

[noreligionisgood]

Chief Chris Skead of the Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation said 171 “plausible” graves of former pupils had been found at St. Mary’s Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. Five of the potential grave sites are marked.

“As we grieve these findings, remember that we have survived,” Chief Skead said in a video announcement of the preliminary finding to members of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation. “Remember that we are still here, and that has taken our Anishinabe strength, the strength of our ancestors.”

Reports of such remains began in May 2021, when an Indigenous community in British Columbia announced that it had located what it said appeared to be 215 unmarked graves of former pupils at the now-closed Kamloops Indian Residential School in the province. The revelations have been seen as further proof of the brutality of a now-defunct system of education for Indigenous children that a national commission declared a form of “cultural genocide.”

Don’t ever forget that these schools were run by the Catholic Church, even though the press doesn’t make that a prominent fact in the report.

[spine-buster]

American here, is French a requirement for schools ? If so when is it introduced ?

Here, at least in my state, students can elect a language to learn in 7th grade and then in highschool we were required to have 4 years of a language (for those who wish to go to a 4 year university, not community college). Most students continued the language elective they chose in 7th grade in highschool so it was rather easy for lots to get a bi-literacy seal on their diploma at graduation if they took an AP tear . For us the major language was Spanish with German coming in a close second

I can only speak for Ontario (as provinces have jurisdiction over education), but I believe that in public schools, French begins at grade 4, whereas in public Catholic schools, French starts in grade 1. Regardless, you must take it up until grade 9, and then in grades 10-12 it becomes an elective. If you take French all four years of high school you can graduate with a French certificate. Other languages are offered as electives throughout high school, depending on availability. For example, my school offers Italian, Spanish, and Latin. My high school also offered German.

When I was a kid in elementary school we also had a local languages program and learned Italian along with French (the area I lived in in Toronto was very Italian, so it made sense for the area). I don't know if that's still a thing.

[jenthomsonreal]

Exploring the Best Houses for Sale in Ingersoll

Ingersoll, Ontario, is a hidden gem for homebuyers seeking a perfect blend of small-town charm, scenic beauty, and modern amenities. As you explore the best houses for sale in Ingersoll, you’ll find that this vibrant community offers something for everyone. Here’s why Ingersoll should be at the top of your list, and how Jen Thomson, a top realtor, can help you find your dream home.

1. Charming Small-Town Atmosphere

Ingersoll exudes a small-town charm that is hard to resist. The friendly community, tree-lined streets, and historic architecture create a welcoming environment. Whether you’re walking through downtown or attending local events, you’ll quickly feel at home in this close-knit community.

2. Variety of Housing Options

One of the key advantages of exploring houses for sale in Ingersoll is the variety of housing options available. From charming historic homes to modern new builds, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, looking to upgrade, or seeking a cozy retirement home, Ingersoll has it all.

3. Excellent Schools and Family-Friendly Amenities

Ingersoll is an ideal place for families, thanks to its excellent schools and family-friendly amenities. The town is served by the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board, both of which offer top-notch educational opportunities. Additionally, there are numerous parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities that cater to families with children.

4. Thriving Local Economy

The local economy in Ingersoll is thriving, with growth in various sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services. This economic stability provides residents with ample job opportunities and contributes to the overall quality of life in the town. The presence of major employers like CAMI Automotive also ensures a steady demand for housing.

5. Proximity to Major Cities

Ingersoll’s strategic location is another reason why it’s a great place to buy a home. Situated close to major highways, the town offers easy access to nearby cities like London and Woodstock. This makes commuting for work or leisure convenient while allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of a quieter, rural lifestyle.

6. Scenic Beauty and Outdoor Activities

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate Ingersoll’s scenic beauty and abundance of outdoor activities. The town is surrounded by lush green spaces, parks, and trails, perfect for hiking, biking, or a leisurely walk. Centennial Park, with its picturesque setting and recreational facilities, is a favorite among residents.

7. Rich Cultural Heritage

Ingersoll boasts a rich cultural heritage that is reflected in its historic sites, museums, and cultural events. The Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre and the Ingersoll Theatre of Performing Arts offer a variety of cultural experiences for residents and visitors alike. This vibrant cultural scene adds to the town’s unique character and charm.

8. Jen Thomson Realtor: Your Trusted Guide

When it comes to finding the best houses for sale in Ingersoll, working with a knowledgeable and experienced realtor is essential. Jen Thomson, a top realtor in the area, is dedicated to helping you find your dream home. With her deep understanding of the local market and commitment to client satisfaction, Jen Thomson is the perfect partner to guide you through the home-buying process.

Conclusion

Ingersoll offers a unique blend of small-town charm, a variety of housing options, excellent amenities, and economic stability, making it an ideal place to buy a home. With the expertise of Jen Thomson, a trusted realtor, you can navigate the market with confidence and find the perfect house that meets your needs. Start exploring the best houses for sale in Ingersoll today and discover why this charming town is the perfect place to call home.

[mothmvn]

political transphobia vent (canada) below the cut but uhhh

the way the 2025 election cycle is ramping up is slowly making me feel like i'm squeaking past something terrible looming on the horizon with my name change & passport & everything else. it keeps reminding me of the reading i've done on early soviet homosexual liberation - being gay was completely legal 1917-1933 and then became illegal again; i thought how insane it must've been to grow up and form an identity in those 16 years only to have it stamped out

the conservatives in canada are not on the level of openly pushing for that kind of thing... i type out but i'm a fuckin liar! sask already passed school gender narc legislation, alberta is already trying to restrict transition care for minors! in my province, the education minister echoed gender narcing as a great idea last year! a publically funded catholic school board won the right to refuse to fly a pride flag in court in the same province. all the crap the multi-headed hydra of the USA is doing south of the border is fuel on the fire of canadian tories, and UK terfism isn't far off (especially - i'm sorry to say - with the influx of fellow ukrainians... i know how many of them cheered on trump back in the day...... how many defend rowling........)

like, my transition is still going fine, my GP was supportive to a degree i didn't expect in 2021 and applied for all the provincial funding on my behalf; she's a sweet lady who's earnestly surprised about complications i face as a patient - testosterone for gender transition is the same testosterone that's a schedule IV anabolic steroid! i'm planning on having top surgery next year (whew), but the two clinics in ontario don't do "cosmetic adjustments" on top of the mastectomy at government cost - if i want it to look like a gender-affirming surgery it'll be in Montreal.

like OBVIOUSLY this is fine, in my home country (a) there's a war (b) i can't start transitioning legally until I turn 25 (c) transitioning to male makes me so so so very draftable and locks me inside the country unless i out myself as a tranny or lie about a disability and i've been in moral torment over this since BEFORE (a) and (b) were known factors. obviously ontario is a heaven in comparison! it really is. i'm so fucking lucky i got to grow up partially here and make decisions for myself here.

thats probably why it hurts that much worse to see the recent progress - the progress i benefitted from so much - being peeled back protection by protection. i wanted to come back to ukraine one day and bring some of those ideals back with me and now they're eroding before i can come back to the country that's equally being eroded before i can come back and transition there . whew !

[essentiallyinfinite]

Okay. I am feeling, and have felt for so many years, a kind of fixation on ... figuring out a way to live well.

I was compulsive about books and knowledge. I think to a fault; I collected and accumulated more books than I could realistically hope to read and integrate in a lifetime, thinking I would somehow synthesize a "grand theory" of sorts. Something inclusive of science and spirituality...

I'm going to take some influence from Jasun Horsley and go through my evolution of influences, since I don't see a way to dissociate my life from my philosophy.

Early on ... I think in my early adolescence -- it must have been after my older brother by seven years had left home to live and work in a Camphill Community in Ireland (connected with Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy -- my parents and I went on a short vacation during March break to somewhere north in Ontario where there was still plenty enough snow to go snowshoeing and staid in a hotel. In that hotel, in the drawer of the sidetable next to the bed where ordinarily at that time one would find a copy of the bible I found "Conversations With God" by Neale Donald Walsh.

I hadn't thought too much about "God" before that, that I can remember. My parents hadn't taken us to church at all despite (or because of) my mom coming from a Catholic upbringing and my father's father being a minister (Presbyterian?). But something grabbed me and I devoured the book. I think it was the first time I was exposed to the idea of "God" as not a separate entity but as here and now present in our thoughts, feelings, ideas, circumstances and environment; that at some level we were all inherently divine by nature and that we were "God" experiencing Itself subjectively; a hidden Unity within an illusion of separateness. This struck me as such a beautiful, obvious truth.

My brother was influential, despite being physically absent during these seminal years as I approached adulthood. He had a spiritual inclination, and during this time in my teens I went through his bookshelf. Another book that I read and influenced me was "The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore," by Alan Cohen. I don't remember much specifically about this book now, other than that it was a bit "New Age-y" and was one of these narratives I'd come to recognise about a "typical" middle-class white Westerner "discovering" Eastern mysticism and getting taken in by some kind of guru/spiritual teacher. Similar to another book from my brother's shelf, "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass/Richard Alpert.

Also during this period and thanks to my brother's small library I began to discover Jack Kerouac, and read through a number of his semi-autobiographical novels like "On the Road," "Dharma Bums" and "Desolation Angels". I think this was also when I started to see more of the "shadow side" of things -- it was confusing at first to learn that Kerouac, despite being creative, successful, and "spiritual" had nonetheless still ended up essentially committing slow suicide and dying young through alcoholism. Despite this, I still picked up a distorted romanticized view of this lifestyle -- that one could be a "spiritual" artist/creator and also a hedonistic asshole.

This was further compounded by my reading "Tropic of Cancer" by Henry Miller, who painted a picture of living in poverty, borrowing money to buy wine, writing and womanizing, which started to seem very cool to me -- I had little self-awareness and virtually no social skills. I had a few short-lived relationships that basically consisted of me fixating and obsessing with a girl and then (if and when they actually kind of reciprocated) they or I would distance ourselves or break things off.

I thrived briefly in a special program where 20 or so students got to work in a sort of outdoor education setting where we learned about deep ecology, Taoism, took turns cooking lunch and washing up, and had grade 4 and 5 students come for overnight field trips where we would put on activities and performances to teach about environmentalism stuff. Every semester two or three students were selected from applicants to continue as co-op helpers and intermediaries between the program instructors and the next semester of students. I wanted to do this and I believe was very close to being selected but was rejected because I'd struggled to hand in my final assignment on time. I didn't know that this was because of my ADHD neurotype. I thought I was just undisciplined and prone to procrastination. To this day this rejection haunts me and I feel like I lost part of myself in that moment. All of my close friends were selected into this role except me and I don't think I will ever forgive the teacher for his ignorance and lack of understanding. But he was basically a child himself, I think only in his late twenties, and at the time neurodivergency wasn't well-known or recognized like it is today. Still, the correct thing to do would have been to draw out my potential and help me improve rather than rejecting and shaming me.

Also during these years I had terrible self-esteem and would look at myself in the mirror and repeatedly punch myself in the face for being "ugly." Also, apparently in grade six I had started "cutting" myself or something but I don't remember doing that, and it's possible that the attention it got made me learn to be more discreet about my self-harming "meltdowns" -- they would always be in extreme states of emotional overwhelm and never deliberate. Always violent outbursts. Of course I felt immense shame and embarrassment about doing this sort of thing once I had calmed down.

....

[sipsofsecrets]

ˏˋ 𓂃 ( ana de armas. cis-female. she/her. ). meet amara morales cortez, a 36 year old, who has been in cloyne for 11 years. they are a teacher at clone high school, known for being graceful even in stressful situations and their home-wrecker reputation. they are often heard humming along to young and beautiful by lana del rey. residents would describe them as the mayor's mistress. ( klein, 29, she/her, est )

A U R A

soft rustling of silk as she walks through her home, a mixture of grace and purpose in every step. shadows cast by flickering candlelight during late-night reading sessions, a glass of red wine untouched beside her. scent of aged wood and books in her study, a space where she finds peace amidst the chaos of her life. quiet moments after a playful argument with her husband, his words still lingering in the air as she considers what it would mean to give up teaching. sound of her children playing in the background, their laughter a reminder of the family she’s built, though she longs for more. sharp click of her heels as she leaves the school after a long day, knowing her husband would prefer her home, but feeling too attached to the life she’s created for herself. late nights curled up with a book, one hand absentmindedly resting on her stomach, thinking about the possibility of another child. classical music echoing through the house while she cooks dinner for her family, an elegant façade hiding the fear underneath.

P R O F I L E

birth name: ana maria rojas, amara morales (given when she entered witness protection), amara morales cortez (she took the last name cortez after marrying victor).

nicknames: the first lady (a nickname among locals, acknowledging her position as the mayor’s wife), the mayor's mistress.

date of birth: april 30, 1988.

age: 36.

height: 5'6" / 167 cm.

gender: cis-female.

pronouns: she/her.

sexuality: bisexual heterosexual.

relationship status: married to victor cortez (the mayor).

birthplace: havana, cuba.

currently resides: cloyne, ontario.

husband: victor cortez, the mayor of cloyne.

children: 7-year-old twins (mateo and clara cortez).

step-children: emilio (21 y/o) and julian cortez (22 y/o) from victor’s previous marriage.

religion: catholic (non-practicing, more out of habit than faith)

education: undergraduate degree (history+ english literature), teaching certificate

languages: spanish (native), english (fluent), french (basic).

occupation: history + social studies teacher at cloyne high school.

A T T R I B U T E S

preferred hand: left-handed

blood type: O+ (universal donor, think the giving tree)

allergies: none

physical health: maintains an active lifestyle, balancing the demands of motherhood with self-care. practices yoga when she has time, but isn’t rigid about it.

mental health: occasional bouts of paranoia. deals with suppressed fear of her past catching up to her (especially regarding the safety of her family). compartmentalizes emotions and stress to maintain control. haunted by memories of her early life causes her sleepless nights or vivid flashbacks

P E R S O N A

taurus sun. intj. melancholic. 6w5 (the loyalist).

graceful (maintains her composure in every situation). intelligent (planning ahead to stay in control of her life). compassionate (deeply cares for her husband, children, students, and those closest to her). self-controlled (rarely acts impulsively).

secretive (she guards her past carefully). mistrustful (years of hiding have made her wary of others). perfectionist (she strives for flawlessness in everything she does, mistakes could unravel her life).

R E L A T I O N S

her husband: amara calls victor "mi sol," a term of endearment that signifies the steady, grounding force he is in her life. despite their deep connection, there is ongoing tension between them.

children: her relationship with her twins is loving, and she is a dedicated mother. however, her relationship with her step-sons is more strained. they remain wary of her, knowing she was once their father’s mistress. while she tries to play the role of a nurturing stepmother, there is a distance between them, and amara senses they don’t fully trust her.

students: as a teacher at cloyne high school, amara is respected for her compassion. she’s known for being firm but fair.

reputation in cloyne: amara is known for her composure, even in the face of scandal. despite being the mayor’s wife, many in town still refer to her as “the mayor’s mistress,” a label that follows her due to the circumstances of her marriage. she’s both admired for her elegance and whispered about for her past. her reputation as a home-wrecker hasn’t faded over the years, but she carries herself with dignity, never reacting to the gossip.

public persona: amara is the epitome of grace. she dresses impeccably and speaks carefully, always conscious of how she is perceived. while the town still gossips about her past, she never gives them fuel for new rumours. she attends town events as the mayor’s wife, playing the part of the supportive spouse.

H A B I T S

sips her coffee slowly, savouring it.

never rushing through mornings.

organizes her desk meticulously.

taps her nails against her glass or on her desk when she is deep in thought.

L I K E S

vintage perfume (prefers the scent of jasmine, sandalwood, and leather—her signature fragrance).

books (historical fiction and mystery novels and erotica).

fine cigars (especially if they're cuban).

rare, vintage jewelry

away from her children and husband's eyes: bourbon (prefers it neat, a reminder of her power and control).

hunting (another sport she does not like to indulge in around her children nor her husband).

D I S L I K E S

discussing her past or her family in cuba.

invasion of her personal space.

unannounced visits.

public scrutiny.

messes. especially bloody messes.

A P P E A R A N C E

so strikingly beautiful that her presence that commands attention, her features are soft but strong at the same time. light eyes, full lips, dark hair. her body is lean and tone, she walks with the grace of royalty.

S T Y L E

often wears tailored dresses, fitted blouses and slacks. at home she favours soft, comfortable fabrics like cashmere sweaters and silk robes but her wardrobe has always been stocked with elegance.

T A T T O O S

a small delicate sun tattoo on her ribcage just beneath her heart (mi sol). a delicate constellation on the inside of her right wrist with two stars representing her twins-- below each star are their birthdates in roman numerals.

S T O R I E S U N T O L D

1988: ana maria rojas was born in havana, cuba. her father was deeply involved in organized crime. despite this, he loved his children deeply, and when his criminal ties put them at risk, he made a deal with the united states government to become an informant.

1999: by age of 11, ana maria witnessed several heinous crimes due to her father’s criminal involvement. these experiences deeply affected her, making her develop a strong aversion to messes and blood. as the danger grew, her father arranged for her to be smuggled out of cuba to miami for her safety. ana had to leave her brother behind, who was only 9 years old because he had already been pulled into the gang, which has haunted her ever since.

2003: by the time she turned 15, ana maria was placed in the witness protection program and moved to canada, under the new identity of amara morales. the increased risk to her life prompted this move.

2003 - 2012: during her years in vancouver, canada amara lived with foster parents who gave her stability, but she always carried the trauma of leaving her brother behind in cuba. she feared that the criminal organizations her father betrayed might find her, so she stayed vigilant and distant from others. the memories of the crimes she witnessed in cuba continued to shape her, causing her deep discomfort with anything bloody or messy.

2012: after the mysterious death of her foster parents, amara felt the need to leave vancouver and start fresh. she relocated to cloyne, ontario, seeking a quiet, hidden life.

2013: amara met victor cortez, the mayor of cloyne, at a time when she was desperate for stability and security. she viewed him as her safety net in a world that constantly felt unstable. that is how their scandal began. though the town gossiped and even labeled her as “the mayor’s mistress," she clung to victor, seeing him as the foundation to the new life she had always longed for.

2017: amara and victor married, and she became amara morales cortez. they had twins, and amara found some peace in motherhood. perhaps this is why she longs for another child. she wants the peace and distraction of a baby's cry. or maybe it's because the rumours the town spreads have a deeper effect on her psyche than she cares to show.

present: amara lives a life of constant vigilance, even though she outwardly seems to have it all—a family, a husband, and a career. she is haunted by memories of her brother and the crimes she witnessed, forever torn between the life she’s built and the past she’s tried to bury.

W A N T E D C O N N E C T I O N S

THE JOURNALIST – there’s a local reporter who has always been suspicious of amara's past. they’ve been quietly investigating her for years, convinced there’s more to her than just being the mayor’s wife.

THE EX-LOVER - before marrying victor, amara had a brief but intense relationship with someone in cloyne. though the affair ended, there’s still a flicker of unresolved tension whenever they see each other.

THE STEP-SON - one of victor’s adult sons still harbours deep resentment toward amara for breaking up his parents’ marriage. their interactions are cold and hostile, but there’s an underlying tension of unresolved conflict between them.

THE BEST FRIEND – amara’s closest confidante in cloyne is a fellow teacher at the high school. they bond over their shared love of history and their ability to keep each other’s secrets, providing emotional support when needed.

THE FORMER STUDENT - amara remains close to a former student who has grown up and is now friends with her step-sons. despite their friendship with her step-sons, this person maintains a special bond with amara, often turning to her for advice and guidance.

THE PARENT FRIEND – one of the other moms from her children’s school has become a casual friend. they bond over school events and playdates, providing amara with a light, friendly connection outside her family drama.

[carfleo]

Catholic Education Week 2024: We Are Called to Love

From the OCSTA: “The Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of thedistinct identity and significant contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.This year’s celebration is entitled, “Catholic Education: We are called to love” and will take placeduring the week of May 5 – May 10.The theme for Catholic Education Week 2024 was inspired by the following…

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.27

Holidays

Big Bang Day (London, UK)

Boxer Shorts Day

Černová Tragedy Day (Slovakia)

Cliche Day

Crack-Nut Night (a.k.a. Nut-Crack Night)

Cranky Co-Workers Day

Dress Purple Day (Ontario)

Etiquette Day

Good Bear Day

Heliotrope Day (French Republic)

Infantry Day (India)

International Be More Toddy Day (UK)

International Day of Text Corrections

International Mentoring Day

International Panda Day

International Religious Freedom Day

Kashmir Black Day (Pakistan)

Mishinden (Mouse Feastday; Bulgaria)

National Black Cat Day (UK)

National Civics Day

National Day of Action Against Antisemitism

National Electricity Day (Indonesia)

National Henry C. Ramos Day

National Hostage Awareness Day

National Mentoring Day

National Tell a Story Day (Scotland)

Navy Day (unofficial) [also 10.13]

New York Subway Day

Occupational Therapy Day

Radio Broadcast License Day

Read for The Record

Scanderberg Commemoration Day

Sylvia Plath Day

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UN)

World Occupational Therapy Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

American Beer Day

National American Beer Day

National Cheese Toastie Day (UK)

National Potato Day [also 8.19]

Sandwich Day

4th & Last Friday in October

Bring Your Jack-O-Lantern to Work Day [Last Friday before Halloween]

Education Communication Day [Last Friday]

Frankenstein Friday [Last Friday]

Global Champagne Day [4th Friday]

International Champagne Day [4th Friday]

Mokosh Day (Ukraine) [Last Friday]

National Bandanna Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

National BETA Founder’s Day [4th Friday]

National Breadstick Day [Last Friday]

Nevada Day (Nevada) [Last Friday]

Red Friday [Friday of Last Full Week]

World Lemur Day [Last Friday]

World Teachers’ Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Independence Days

Mount Henadas (Declared; 2011) [unrecognized]

Saint Vincent & Grenadines (from UK, 1979)

Soda (a.k.a. Bicarbonate of Soda; Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Suverska (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Wyvern (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abbán (Christian; Saint)

Abraham the Poor (Christian; Saint)

Buffon (Positivist; Saint)

Clam Sauce Day (Pastafarian)

Diwali, Day 4 (Hindu, Jain, Sikh), a.k.a. ... 

Day of Cowdung (Krishna)

Day of Oxen

Day of Self (Newar)

Gobardhan Puja (Krishna)

Goru Puja

Goru Tihar

Mha Puja (Newar)

Elesbaan (Christian; Saint)

Festival of the Conspiracies (Church of the SubGenius)

Frumentius (Roman Catholic Church)

Gaudiosus of Naples (Christian; Saint)

Kaleb of Axum (Christian; Saint)

Lee Krasner (Artology)

Mary Moser (Artology)

Mice Wedding Day (Pagan)

Namatius (a.k.a. Namace; Christian; Saint)

Nekhebet’s Day (Pagan)

Oran of Iona (Christian; Saint)

Quackers (Muppetism)

Roy Lichtenstein (Artology)

Silly Walks Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [50 of 57]

Premieres

All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque (Novel; 1928)

The Americanization of Emily (Film; 1964)

Andersonville, by MacKinlay Kantor (Historical Novel; 1955)

Back to Black, by Amy Winehouse (Album; 2006)

Barbara Broadcast (Adult Film; 1977)

Buddy the Woodsman (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Come See About Me, recorded by The Supremes (Song; 1964)

Crocodile Rock, by Elton John (Song; 1972)

Don't Give Up, by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush (Song; 1986)

Foyle’s War (UK TV Series; 2002)

Fun with Mr. Future (Disney Cartoon; 1982)

The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan (Novel; 2009) [Wheel of Time #12]

Godzilla (Film; 1954)

The High King, by Lloyd Alexander [Chronicles of Prydain #5]

Jesus Christ Superstar (Soundtrack Album; 1970)

The Last Ship, by Sting (Musical Play; 2014)

Leaving Las Vegas (Film; 1995)

Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (WB Animated Film; 2014)

The Matrix Revolutions (Film; 2003)

The Moonspinners, by Mary Stewart (Novel; 1962)

National Velvet, by Enid Bagnold (Novel; 1935)

1989, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2014)

1999, by Prince (Album; 1982)

Rebel Without a Cause (Film; 1955)

Rescue Squad Mater (Pixar Cartoon; 2008)

Romeo + Juliet (Film; 1996)

Skylarking by XTC (Album; 1986)

Stand By Me, recorded by Ben E. King (Song; 1960)

Waiting for the Barbarians, J.M. Coetzee (Novel; 1980)

Wideo Wabbit (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

You Bet Your Life (Radio Series; 1947)

Today’s Name Days

Christa, Sabina, Wolfhard (Austria)

Nestor (Bulgaria)

Bartol, Florijan, Gordan, Namat (Croatia)

Šarlota, Zoe (Czech Republic)

Sem (Denmark)

Eila, Eili, Häili, Hälli, Heili (Estonia)

Hellä, Helle, Helli, Hellin (Finland)

Emeline (France)

Christa, Sabina, Stefan, Wolfhard (Germany)

Louppos, Nestor (Greece)

Szabina (Hungary)

Delia, Fiorenzo (Italy)

Irita, Lilita, Lita (Latvia)

Ramojus, Sabina, Tautmilė, Vincas, Vincentas (Lithuania)

Sture, Sturla (Norway)

Frumencjusz, Iwona, Sabina, Siestrzemił, Wincenty (Poland)

Dimitrie (Romania)

Sabína (Slovakia)

Bartolomé, Florencio, Sabina, Vicente (Spain)

Sabina (Sweden)

Nestor (Ukraine)

Cale, Caleb, Feodor, Isaac, Isaak, Issac, Izaac, Kaleb, Ted, Teddy, Teodor, Theodora Theodore (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 300 of 2024; 65 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 43 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 13 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 12 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 30 Shù; Nineday [30 of 30]

Julian: 14 October 2023

Moon: 98%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 20 Descartes (11th Month) [Buffon]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 34 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 4 of 29)

Calendar Changes

Hagal (Hailstone) [Half-Month 21 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 11.10)

[brookston]

Holidays 10.27

Holidays

Big Bang Day (London, UK)

Boxer Shorts Day

Černová Tragedy Day (Slovakia)

Cliche Day

Crack-Nut Night (a.k.a. Nut-Crack Night)

Cranky Co-Workers Day

Dress Purple Day (Ontario)

Etiquette Day

Good Bear Day

Heliotrope Day (French Republic)

Infantry Day (India)

International Be More Toddy Day (UK)

International Day of Text Corrections

International Mentoring Day

International Panda Day

International Religious Freedom Day

Kashmir Black Day (Pakistan)

Mishinden (Mouse Feastday; Bulgaria)

National Black Cat Day (UK)

National Civics Day

National Day of Action Against Antisemitism

National Electricity Day (Indonesia)

National Henry C. Ramos Day

National Hostage Awareness Day

National Mentoring Day

National Tell a Story Day (Scotland)

Navy Day (unofficial) [also 10.13]

New York Subway Day

Occupational Therapy Day

Radio Broadcast License Day

Read for The Record

Scanderberg Commemoration Day

Sylvia Plath Day

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (UN)

World Occupational Therapy Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

American Beer Day

National American Beer Day

National Cheese Toastie Day (UK)

National Potato Day [also 8.19]

Sandwich Day

4th & Last Friday in October

Bring Your Jack-O-Lantern to Work Day [Last Friday before Halloween]

Education Communication Day [Last Friday]

Frankenstein Friday [Last Friday]

Global Champagne Day [4th Friday]

International Champagne Day [4th Friday]

Mokosh Day (Ukraine) [Last Friday]

National Bandanna Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

National BETA Founder’s Day [4th Friday]

National Breadstick Day [Last Friday]

Nevada Day (Nevada) [Last Friday]

Red Friday [Friday of Last Full Week]

World Lemur Day [Last Friday]

World Teachers’ Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Independence Days

Mount Henadas (Declared; 2011) [unrecognized]

Saint Vincent & Grenadines (from UK, 1979)

Soda (a.k.a. Bicarbonate of Soda; Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Suverska (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Wyvern (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abbán (Christian; Saint)

Abraham the Poor (Christian; Saint)

Buffon (Positivist; Saint)

Clam Sauce Day (Pastafarian)

Diwali, Day 4 (Hindu, Jain, Sikh), a.k.a. ... 

Day of Cowdung (Krishna)

Day of Oxen

Day of Self (Newar)

Gobardhan Puja (Krishna)

Goru Puja

Goru Tihar

Mha Puja (Newar)

Elesbaan (Christian; Saint)

Festival of the Conspiracies (Church of the SubGenius)

Frumentius (Roman Catholic Church)

Gaudiosus of Naples (Christian; Saint)

Kaleb of Axum (Christian; Saint)

Lee Krasner (Artology)

Mary Moser (Artology)

Mice Wedding Day (Pagan)

Namatius (a.k.a. Namace; Christian; Saint)

Nekhebet’s Day (Pagan)

Oran of Iona (Christian; Saint)

Quackers (Muppetism)

Roy Lichtenstein (Artology)

Silly Walks Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [50 of 57]

Premieres

All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque (Novel; 1928)

The Americanization of Emily (Film; 1964)

Andersonville, by MacKinlay Kantor (Historical Novel; 1955)

Back to Black, by Amy Winehouse (Album; 2006)

Barbara Broadcast (Adult Film; 1977)

Buddy the Woodsman (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Come See About Me, recorded by The Supremes (Song; 1964)

Crocodile Rock, by Elton John (Song; 1972)

Don't Give Up, by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush (Song; 1986)

Foyle’s War (UK TV Series; 2002)

Fun with Mr. Future (Disney Cartoon; 1982)

The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan (Novel; 2009) [Wheel of Time #12]

Godzilla (Film; 1954)

The High King, by Lloyd Alexander [Chronicles of Prydain #5]

Jesus Christ Superstar (Soundtrack Album; 1970)

The Last Ship, by Sting (Musical Play; 2014)

Leaving Las Vegas (Film; 1995)

Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered (WB Animated Film; 2014)

The Matrix Revolutions (Film; 2003)

The Moonspinners, by Mary Stewart (Novel; 1962)

National Velvet, by Enid Bagnold (Novel; 1935)

1989, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2014)

1999, by Prince (Album; 1982)

Rebel Without a Cause (Film; 1955)

Rescue Squad Mater (Pixar Cartoon; 2008)

Romeo + Juliet (Film; 1996)

Skylarking by XTC (Album; 1986)

Stand By Me, recorded by Ben E. King (Song; 1960)

Waiting for the Barbarians, J.M. Coetzee (Novel; 1980)

Wideo Wabbit (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

You Bet Your Life (Radio Series; 1947)

Today’s Name Days

Christa, Sabina, Wolfhard (Austria)

Nestor (Bulgaria)

Bartol, Florijan, Gordan, Namat (Croatia)

Šarlota, Zoe (Czech Republic)

Sem (Denmark)

Eila, Eili, Häili, Hälli, Heili (Estonia)

Hellä, Helle, Helli, Hellin (Finland)

Emeline (France)

Christa, Sabina, Stefan, Wolfhard (Germany)

Louppos, Nestor (Greece)

Szabina (Hungary)

Delia, Fiorenzo (Italy)

Irita, Lilita, Lita (Latvia)

Ramojus, Sabina, Tautmilė, Vincas, Vincentas (Lithuania)

Sture, Sturla (Norway)

Frumencjusz, Iwona, Sabina, Siestrzemił, Wincenty (Poland)

Dimitrie (Romania)

Sabína (Slovakia)

Bartolomé, Florencio, Sabina, Vicente (Spain)

Sabina (Sweden)

Nestor (Ukraine)

Cale, Caleb, Feodor, Isaac, Isaak, Issac, Izaac, Kaleb, Ted, Teddy, Teodor, Theodora Theodore (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 300 of 2024; 65 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 43 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Ten-Xu), Day 13 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 12 Heshvan 5784

Islamic: 12 Rabi II 1445

J Cal: 30 Shù; Nineday [30 of 30]

Julian: 14 October 2023

Moon: 98%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 20 Descartes (11th Month) [Buffon]

Runic Half Month: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 34 of 89)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 4 of 29)

Calendar Changes

Hagal (Hailstone) [Half-Month 21 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 11.10)

[blogynews]

"Unveiling Ontario's Education Powder Keg: Brace Yourself for an Impending Teachers Strike - The Shocking Verdict from both Government and Unions!"

The conflict between teachers’ unions and the Ontario government is intensifying, as elementary and Catholic teachers have given their respective unions overwhelming strike mandates. This development comes after 95% of elementary teachers and 97% of English Catholic teachers voted in favor of a strike mandate. Both the union and government leaders have taken a cautious approach to this news,…

[blogynewz]

"Unveiling Ontario's Education Powder Keg: Brace Yourself for an Impending Teachers Strike - The Shocking Verdict from both Government and Unions!"

The conflict between teachers’ unions and the Ontario government is intensifying, as elementary and Catholic teachers have given their respective unions overwhelming strike mandates. This development comes after 95% of elementary teachers and 97% of English Catholic teachers voted in favor of a strike mandate. Both the union and government leaders have taken a cautious approach to this news,…