Canada

They came by the thousands to Queen's Park in downtown Toronto on Saturday. They were people of all ages, cultures, genders, abilities and faiths. They came to march. They came to support. They came to fight hate with love.

And they made sure to pick up after themselves as they marched through the core of the city. How Canadian.

The Toronto Women's March was a peaceful show of solidarity with the Women's March in Washington, D.C., and that was the goal for some of the event's many attendees. We spoke to some of the participants on why it was important for them as Canadians to march.

Ashley Catania and Marco Galego

ashley marco womens march toronto

Ashley: "I do want this march to showcase that Canadians should and do care about what's happening in the [United] States right now. It's important to show that their politics are our politics. Trump, the things he's said and done to date have offended people from around the world, doesn't matter where you live — if you're a woman, if you're a minority, you've been affected and you've been hurt. And it's important to speak out against that."

Marco: "It's a global attitude that we need to have. The U.S. is one of the most powerful countries in the world and Canada is its number one ally, and it's important for us to influence them just as much as they influence us. It's very important that things are changing a lot, and we had a great eight years with Obama, and things went in a very good direction. And yes, politics do change and change is good, but this type of change is not good for anybody, and just because we had eight years of Democrats doesn't mean it's time for a bad Republican."

Kathy Le

kathy le womens march toronto

"I want to show my support, solidarity with all the people, Americans. It's very important. They are my neighbours, and they are over there, also combat with all the Trump-style policies, and that's very dangerous. Because it's divided. Build a wall — we're trying to build a bridge, we're not building a wall. And if you want to build a wall, we're building a wall surrounding you right now. That's our wall ... of love. We'll show you that, if you want a wall, you have one now."

Maya Brathwaite and Sophie Brathwaite, age 8

maya womens march toronto

Maya: "If we all raise our voice and if we pay attention — we have to pay attention to what's going on — then we hold everyone accountable. Not only Mr. Trump, but everyone he surrounds himself with. So we will not be silenced. They have intentionally placed a misogynistic, racist man in the White House and they call themselves the leaders of the free world. Well, as of yesterday, you're no longer leaders. You're no longer suitable, you're no longer acceptable, and we've decided that we're not going to follow you.

"We're going to work against you, we're going to pay attention to everything that you do, and we're going to make sure that our future, our daughters' future, is taken care of. So, he wants to be president of the United States? Well, that's fine. Now you know who you are accountable to. And that we're paying attention, and that our voices will be lifted up. We have been silenced for way too long."

Sophie: "I don't want this to be the future. I don't want to have to live in a dangerous place, and I don't want to be separated, not be able to go back to see my uncles and aunties in other places ... I think that women are very important, especially because I am one. And that black people have to have their rights and stuff like that. 'Cause we're the same thing as white people, and we're the same thing as anybody else."

Diane, Toronto

diane womens march toronto

"I want to spread the message that love is all there is, and that's what we're really seeking ultimately. I'm actually excited so many people are waking up, are feeling passionate about something, and are paying attention to what governments are doing now. And I think it's time for us all to be charge for a change."

Brennan Kirby, Toronto

brennan womens march toronto

"I think this is the beginning of a global movement. We had the solidarity rallies all around the world, and as terrible as the result and Trump as president is, I think this is spurring a global movement of driving that conversation, that we're not going backwards, we're going forwards. As much as he's an American president, this is a global issue now, because of the times we live in and just in terms of what America stands for, in terms of democracy and freedom in the world."

Olivia Chow, former Toronto city councillor

olivia womens march toronto

'I'm here because of (granddaughter) Beatrice and (daughter-in-law) Sarah, and for the future of young women. Because we need to say no to violence, we have to seek equality and better justice.

"I think we're also sending a message to the elected people, whether it's City Hall right here, Queen's Park or Parliament Hill, that the policies and the budget, there has to be gender equity. i.e. there needs to be investment in public transit, in more affordable housing so women leaving violence are able to find a home, and better education for our young people and our children and affordable childcare, because right now, one of my granddaughters, her childcare cost for her dad and mom, is like $25,000 plus. It's so expensive. So there's so much we can do to make sure there's gender equity.

"We need to say to racialized communities, black, Muslim, LGBTQ, Indigenous people, that are getting discriminated, whether it's here or elsewhere, that we stand with them."

Rochelle Myers Pollmann

rochelle womens march toronto

I have daughters, and especially being a racialized minority, I think it's important to stand up for civil rights, and I've created change agents in my children ... I need to ensure that they're able to practice that. So seeing a collective, of the importance of human rights is important to get them immersed in at a younger age.

"And also just to send a message to our fellow brothers and sisters that we're there to support you, especially with all the oppression that continues to go on. Canada and America are not really that different, it's more covert here. So, I think it's time, it's an awakening."

These interviews have been condensed.

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There were some seriously amazing signs displayed at women's marches in the U.S., Canada and around the world.

But leave it to legendary actor Ian McKellen to take the cake.

McKellen attended a march in London, carrying a sign that needed no words:

ian mckellen womens march

Yes, that's an image of his BFF Patrick Stewart facepalming as Captain Jean-Luc Picard from "Star Trek." The image continues to serve as the basis for countless memes that convey complete disbelief with the ridiculousness of someone or something.

In note posted to Twitter, McKellen described participants in the march as expressing their reaction to the new U.S. president, "whose name in schoolyard English means to 'break wind' appropriately."

The British actor criticized the "charade" and "schtick" by Donald Trump and his billionaire friends: "No doubt his believers will be soon disillusioned. The rest of us cannot let him reign unchallenged. The marches worldwide were a good beginning."

The Women’s March in London was the longest I have been on. See the rest of my message attached. pic.twitter.com/q7QC4Jvg0S
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) January 22, 2017

McKellen said that he actually found the facepalm sign in Trafalgar Square at the end of the march.

McKellan has played major Shakespearean roles and is better known to contemporary audiences as Gandalf in "Lord of the Rings" and Magneto in "X-Men" franchises.

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Aziz Ansari knew his historic appearance on "Saturday Night Live" would bring a lot of attention — including a likely viewer in the new U.S. president.

Donald Trump has made a Sunday Twitter ritual out of skewering the show's portrayal of him, which means he must catch at least some segments.

"Pretty cool to know though he's probably at home watching a brown guy make fun of him, right?" began the comedian, who is the first South Asian to host "SNL."

He went on to denounce the new "lowercase kkk movement," highlighting how racist groups have been normalizing hate and discrimination during Trump's rise to power.

"I think Trump should make a speech. A real speech denouncing the lower-case kkk," Ansari said.

President Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon, used to lead Breitbart News, which he touted as the platform for a new white supremacist movement, the so-called "alt-right." The site refers to transgender people as "trannies," claims that Planned Parenthood has Nazi roots, and says that women shouldn't use the Internet if they don't want to be threatened and harassed.

Ansari used his time in the spotlight to appeal directly to Trump: "Don’t tweet about me being lame or the show. Write a speech. A real speech. Because these people are out there, and it’s pissing a lot of people off. And I think it could make a difference. Because other presidents have done things like this, and it has helped. Hate crimes and stuff that went down."

Ansari used George W. Bush's speech after 9/11 as an example of addresses that could diffuse tense reactions and hate crimes.

"Yesterday, Trump was inaugurated. Today, an entire gender protested against him. Wow," Ansari said, referring to the Women's March in Washington, D.C.

Estimates suggest that more people attended Saturday's event in the capitol than Trump's inauguration on Friday.

"So, look. We’re divided," said Ansari. "It’s OK ... As long as we treat each other with respect and remember that ultimately we’re all Americans, we’ll be fine."

The star of "Master of None" and "Parks and Rec" concluded:

"If you're excited about Trump, great. He's president, let's hope he does a great job," Ansari concluded with. "If you're scared about Trump and you're very worried, you're going to be OK, too. Because, if you look at our country's history, change doesn't come from presidents. Change comes from large groups of angry people. And if day one is any indication, you are part of the largest group of angry people I have ever seen. Good luck to you."

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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his federal Liberal government will confront the reality of Donald Trump in the White House as his cabinet members begin gathering Sunday in Calgary for a three-day retreat that are to include discussions with an adviser to the new president.

Up to now, Trudeau has had a relatively smooth ride guiding Canada's relations with the U.S., thanks to being so simpatico with Barack Obama — natural allies on climate change, with a close personal relationship that oozed brotherly affection.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 15, 2016.

Now the Liberals are girding for a major reset with Washington, which is expected to be the preoccupying pastime for Liberal ministers during their upcoming meetings.

Discussions will be held over the next few days including with Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of the Blackstone Group investment firm appointed in December to lead the President's Strategic and Policy Forum, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed Sunday.

Dominic Barton, the head of the Trudeau government's influential council of economic advisers, is also set to attend. Earlier this month, he cautioned that Trump's pledges on trade and taxation must be taken seriously in Canada.

The Liberal government hopes to send a message to the Trump administration that Canada and the U.S. have a shared agenda, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said Sunday in Calgary.

"We will have to see what the administration actually goes,'' he said.

"Many words have been spoken and there's been tons of speculation, but we enter the relationship knowing that there is common ground in the energy sphere and we'll look for it.''

Trump-Trudeau meeting scheduled

Earlier Sunday in Washington, Trump said he had scheduled meetings with Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and signalled negotiations will have to begin on NAFTA.

"I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA,'' Trump said. "But we're going to start renegotiating on NAFTA, on immigration, on security at the border.''

The date of the meeting between Trudeau and Trudeau has yet to be announced.

"This is a big shift. It's not just true for Canada but for every country in the world."

So far, the Liberals have reached out to Trump's transition team, "in order to begin conveying the importance of our economic partnership and the American interest in maintaining it,'' said Roland Paris, Trudeau's former foreign policy adviser. But now the real work starts with Trump taking over the White House.

"This is a big shift. It's not just true for Canada but for every country in the world. We have a U.S. administration which is pursuing an approach which looks like it will be different from any U.S. administration in our lifetime.''

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak in Hershey, Pa., on Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Trudeau has already shuffled his cabinet to adapt to Trump appointing trade specialist Chrystia Freeland to Foreign Affairs, and retired general Andrew Leslie as her parliamentary secretary, thanks to his connection to a number of fellow former military commanders who got top jobs under Trump.

The Liberal government says it is seeking common ground with the Trump administration on promoting middle-class growth.

Prior to her promotion, Freeland was already making the rounds in Washington, talking to members of Congress and Trump's transition team in her capacity as trade minister.

Freeland met with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, now a Trump adviser, as well as Schwarzman.

Chrystia Freeland speaks in the House of Commons.

Trump wants the 16 CEOs and business leaders in the group to provide him a private-sector perspective on finding ways to create jobs and drive growth.

Georganne Burke, an American-born Trump supporter who is a vice-president of a Toronto public relations firm, said it would be a good idea for the Liberals to keep talking to Schwarzman and his group.

"Trump wants to bring back jobs and that's what this group is about,'' she said. "There might be some areas where they can complement each other.''

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Ontario's Liberal premier has written an open letter to newly announced candidate for Conservative leadership Kevin O'Leary criticizing his proposed policies and comments he made about Ontario's auto sector.

Kathleen Wynne wrote that she thinks O'Leary believes the government's role should be to serve "society's most well-off,'' based on policies he's outlined thus far.

Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks during a news conference on April 16, 2015.

O'Leary announced that he's running for Conservative leadership last week.

Wynne wrote the letter in response to comments she said O'Leary made to media, though she didn't give specifics about which media outlets.

She said O'Leary was "inaccurate on just about every count'' when he told media that Ontario falls behind Michigan when it comes to investment in the auto sector.

She closed off the letter by welcoming the former "Dragon's Den'' and current "Shark Tank'' star to the political arena.

"I respect anyone who is willing to enter the den,'' she wrote.

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OTTAWA — President Donald Trump will loom large when representatives from several NATO countries gather here this week to finalize plans for deployment of a Canadian-led battle group to Latvia starting in the spring.

But at least one senior official from the eastern European nation is counselling calm.

Canada agreed last year to lead one of four multinational NATO forces in eastern Europe as the military alliance sought to bolster its presence and provide a check on Russian aggression in the region.

But that was before the outspoken real-estate mogul and reality TV star, who has repeatedly described NATO as "obsolete'' and promised new ties with Russia, became president.

"We should not rush to make any conclusions. But we don't have any reasons to question American leadership,'' Janis Garisons, Latvian state secretary for defence, said Friday in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"And I'm convinced President Trump will continue with those things that were agreed to before.''

Even so, questions abound over how Trump will approach NATO and Russia. Many NATO allies are now wringing their hands over whether they can trust the U.S. to come to their aid should Russia attack.

"We should not rush to make any conclusions."

Despite those concerns, Canada's federal Liberal government has said it is pressing ahead with plans to deploy troops and armoured vehicles to Latvia, where they will serve as the core of a 1,000-strong battalion.

Representatives from Albania, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Slovenia, each of which is contributing troops and equipment to the Canadian-led force, will travel to Ottawa this week to iron out the final details.

President Donald Trump arrives to his inauguration on Friday.

Garisons said the hope is for the first foreign troops to arrive by May, with all elements in place by July or August.

Canada is expected to send 450 soldiers as well as light armoured vehicles and other equipment from Edmonton in the first rotation, which will last about six months.

Officials have said Canada will continue to lead the mission in Latvia as long as required.

Garisons pointed to his meetings with U.S. officials during three days in Washington last week as well as recent comments by Trump's picks for defence secretary and secretary of state as reasons for hope.

Retired general James Mattis, Trump's pick for secretary of defence, told U.S. senators last week that Russia was trying to "break'' NATO, before strongly defending the importance of the military alliance.

us army

American soldiers take part in a NATO military exercise in Latvia on June 13, 2016.

Oil tycoon Rex Tillerson, who has been nominated as secretary of state, was more guarded, but said Russia "poses a danger.''

Garisons said the fact the alliance is still deploying the battle groups to Latvia as well as Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, led by the U.K., Germany and the U.S., respectively, was also positive.

"From all of this process, it's very clear that the alliance is united and the allies are united,'' he said.

"And this is something which is very important. Because the strength of NATO and the strength of western societies is unity. If we are divided and we are not able to hold together, then I think that is a big problem.''

But Garisons said NATO members must also recognize, and act upon, the complaints that not only Trump but other U.S. leaders have voiced about the alliance not carrying its own weight.

Trump's concerns are nothing new

Trump alluded to that during his inaugural speech Friday, saying the U.S. had for decades "subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military.''

"We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own.''

That's actually a very familiar sentiment, Garisons said.

"Maybe it wasn't put in such an explicit way, but we have heard it from many U.S. defence officials. It's nothing new, and I think we should recognize it.''

It's also why Latvia has ramped up its own defence spending, which is currently at about 1.7 per cent of its gross domestic product, but will reach the NATO target of two per cent next year.

"We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own.''

Canada currently spends less than one per cent of its GDP on defence.

Eastern Europe allies asked NATO to bolster its presence in the region as a deterrent against Russia trying to destabilize them in the same way it did Ukraine. That includes crossing into their territory, inciting Russian speakers within their borders and cyberattacks.

Russia has denied any such intentions and instead accused NATO of instigating the current standoff by expanding into former Soviet territory and trying to undermine its sphere of influence. It has also warned against any military build-up on its borders.

Garisons said Latvian soldiers will be responsible for patrolling the country's border with Russia, while the Canadians and other members of the NATO force provide training and other assistance as required.

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TORONTO — More than 200 students at a Toronto college are victims of an outbreak that has so far sent about 50 people to hospital, Toronto Public Health said Sunday.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein, an associate medical officer of health at the agency, said the illness was first reported to public health on Friday, after 40 people at the north campus of Humber College were sent to hospital.

He noted that so far, only one person has been admitted to the hospital for treatment of dehydration. The rest were examined in the emergency room and then released.

Most of the affected students live in the North Campus residence at the college, he said, which houses about 1,000 students.

More than 200 students at Humber College in Toronto have fallen ill in a mysterious outbreak. (Photo: Andrew Stawicki/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Finkelstein said he believes the vomitting, diarrhea, dizziness and abdominal pain students are experiencing may be caused by norovirus, though he said he's still waiting on laboratory results for confirmation.

Norovirus is highly contagious, he said, and it's fast-acting.

"It causes severe symptoms quickly, but it also goes away very quickly.''

Andrew Leopold, a spokesman for the college, said on Friday that students began reporting symptoms around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, with more cases surfacing through the night. At that point, there were only about 77 reported cases.

"This is a unique situation,'' he said. "We want to make sure our students are feeling good and receiving the care and attention they need.''

"It causes severe symptoms quickly, but it also goes away very quickly.''

And while the setting of the outbreak may be somewhat unusual — Finkelstein said he'd never investigated an outbreak on a college campus before — it isn't necessarily surprising.

"When you bring this number of people in a small space like a college residence, certainly that does increase the risk of a virus like norovirus spreading from person to person.''

"They're using common bathrooms,'' he added, which presents ample opportunity for germs to spread if sinks and toilets aren't cleaned between uses.

A representative from the college said common areas are now being cleaned more often, and Finkelstein said students should be sure to properly clean their living spaces to prevent the disease from spreading further.

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After leaking information only damaging to Hillary Clinton and the Democrats during the presidential campaign, WikiLeaks may finally be attempting to balance the scales with a Twitter plea asking for Donald Trump’s tax returns so they can be published on the site.

But the request, apparently to hackers or any whistleblowers with access to the documents, unleashed a stream of criticism against the Internet leak site which was so inexplicably silent on Trump during his race to the presidency.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception at the White House on Sunday. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

The call to potential leakers was made after White House advisor Kellyanne Conway said on TV Sunday that the president will not release his tax returns after all, despite Trump’s campaign pledge that he would do so. Every president since Richard Nixon has routinely revealed his tax returns (or a summary in Gerald Ford’s case). Tax information on Trump, who retains ownership of businesses around the world as president, is particularly critical to establish or settle conflict of interest concerns.

“Trump Counselor Kellyanne Conway stated today that Trump will not release his tax returns. Send them to: https://wikileaks.org/#submit so we can,” said the WikiLeaks tweet Sunday. WikiLeaks also said that Trump’s refusal to release the returns is even more “gratuitous” than “Clinton not releasing transcripts of a meeting with Goldman Sachs,” referring to paid speeches she made to executives of the powerful financial firm.

Trump Counselor Kellyanne Conway stated today that Trump will not release his tax returns. Send them to: https://t.co/cLRcuIiQXz so we can.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 22, 2017

Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 22, 2017

A poll earlier this month by the Washington Post/ABC found that 74 percent of Americans — including 53 percent of Republicans — want to see Trump’s tax returns. Suddenly, so does WikiLeaks. But the request from the come-lately outlet triggered criticism over its apparent past bias. American intelligence has concluded that the damaging leaks against the Democrats were provided to WikiLeaks by hackers working at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin to help get Trump elected.

New York Times editor Patrick LaForge quickly added his own tweet to the WikiLeaks request with a “better idea,” noting that the Times provides “ways to get in touch and share materials with our journalists confidentially.”

Another reader also suggested “any other news sites” that “aren’t playing for given outcomes.”

Or Pro Publica. Or Mother Jones. Plenty of reportorial outlets that aren't playing for given outcomes and alliances. https://t.co/9hA7pVkbye
— David Simon (@AoDespair) January 22, 2017

Another reader responded to the WikiLeaks tweet: “You built this s―- bed, now lie in it.” Another said: “Wait, what? Is WikiLeaks beings unbiased? Tell me I’m not dreaming.”

Wait, what? Is WikiLeaks being unbiased? Tell me I'm not dreaming. https://t.co/yV3X7EtuDZ
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 22, 2017

@wikileaks @AJemaineClement Yeah right, because we can all trust Wikileaks not to share them with Putin first, right?
— Rod Johnson (@hauterodjohnson) January 22, 2017

The WikiLeaks’ tweet, apparently urging a hack or leak, was similar to Trump’s controversial dog whistle to Russia during his campaign saying he “hoped” that the country had “hacked” Clinton’s emails while she was secretary of state. “If they hacked, they probably have her 33,000 emails. I hope they do,” Trump said at a July press conference last year. The comments drew a firestorm of criticism for the apparent encouragement of a foreign nation to commit a crime against an American citizen, and hack emails that likely included classified information. Trump later said he was being “sarcastic.”

WikiLeaks posted thousands of hacked emails last year from the Democratic National Committee and from Clinton campaign manager John Podesta. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied the emails were provided by Russian hackers under the thumb of Putin. Trump has supported Assange’s denials over findings by U.S. intelligence leaders, even though he called Assange’s publication of classified information from Chelsea Manning “disgraceful” and suggested there “should be like the death penalty or something” for the breach of information.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in February 2016. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trump promised during his campaign that he would release his returns after a tax audit was completed — though nothing about an audit prohibits him from making the information public. Now the returns will not be released even after an audit is complete.

Conway said flatly in her interview on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday: “He’s not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didn’t care.” Trump also said during his news conference earlier this month that Americans “don’t care at all” about the returns; only reporters do. Conway was responding to a question about a petition posted on the White House website signed by 228,000 people as of Sunday evening demanding that Trump immediately release his tax returns. The petition was posted shortly after the inauguration.

Another leak site that has declared war on Trump is the hacker activist collective Anonymous, which has vowed to make the president “regret the next four years.”

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OTTAWA — Veteran Ontario New Democrat MP Charlie Angus says he has moved into the second phase of his possible campaign to lead his party.

Angus, who launched a new website Sunday, says he is trying to build a national team of volunteers and collect donations after spending weeks reaching out to family, colleagues, constituents and supporters.

NDP MP Charlie Angus speaks in the House of Commons on April 12, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

He says the "unnerving" inauguration of President Donald Trump speaks to why it is necessary to build a national political movement in Canada that offers a positive reason to get involved.

So far, the lengthy race to replace Tom Mulcair in October remains wide open.

B.C. MP Peter Julian is the only person to formally register with Elections Canada but he says he has yet to make a decision about the race.

Other possible contenders include Manitoba MP Niki Ashton and Ontario deputy NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

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For many people, feeling stronger may mean picking up a pair of weights.

But for body-positive babe Kathleen Elizabeth Tyler, it's more than just how you look on the surface.

The blogger and Instagram role model (seriously, she's so kickass), posted a photo of herself last week reminding us what it really means to be #StrongNotSkinny — a hashtag recently blowing up on the social media site.

"I often times see people in recovery saying that they aspire to be "#strongnotskinny," so tonight I wanted to let y'all know that there are ways to achieve this goal that don't involve daily visits to the gym," she wrote on Instagram.

I often times see people in recovery saying that they aspire to be "#strongnotskinny," so tonight I wanted to let y'all know that there are ways to achieve this goal that don't involve daily visits to the gym. I don't exercise, and no that doesn't mean I sit around all day doing nothing, it simply means that I find ways in my daily life to move around without making my life about when I am going to fit in my daily mandatory visit to the gym: but I still am so very strong. -Kicking my eating disorder's ass= strong -Reporting my sexual abuse despite the fact that a majority of women in America are still to this day harshly accused of lying about the thing that destroyed their ability to feel safety= strong -Deciding to wake up and love myself everyday= strong -Advocating against the illness that almost took my life= strong So the next time you are getting down on yourself because you chose extra fries over exercise, please remember that strength isn't only found in lifting weights and sometimes choosing the extra fries is exactly the kind of strength that will allow you to defeat your demons. #rollsarentjustforcinnamon

A photo posted by Kathleen (@fallingintoselflove) on Jan 18, 2017 at 6:02pm PST

In the photo, Tyler posts a side-by-side photo of herself, one in which she's wearing a sports bra and the other, a tank top.

She continued, "I don't exercise, and no that doesn't mean I sit around all day doing nothing, it simply means that I find ways in my daily life to move around without making my life about when I am going to fit in my daily mandatory visit to the gym: but I still am so very strong."

Tyler added that for her, feeling strong means kicking her eating disorder's ass, reporting her sexual abuse and deciding every single day to wake up and love herself.

"The next time you are getting down on yourself because you chose extra fries over exercise, please remember that strength isn't only found in lifting weights and sometimes choosing the extra fries is exactly the kind of strength that will allow you to defeat your demons," she said.

Think of a someone you know and love inside of your mind, and then allow your thoughts regarding them to flow freely throughout your brain. Now try to convince yourself to say some of the horrible things we say about our own bodies but make it about them. Its a miserable concept to even ponder because when you have had the chance to truly experience the beauties inside of another person’s soul, physical traits no longer hold very much ground in your opinions of that person. But what I find most interesting about this concept, is that often times people don’t realize that this phenomenon applies to how they view themselves as well. Once we really now ourselves, we begin to accept that we have worlds of beauty inside of us. Before I had embarked on my journey of self discovery, I described myself based only on my outer appearances and what the life experiences I had faced… I was my stretch marks and my cellulite. I was my acne and my bushy eyebrows. I was the outer shell of a girl who had been hurt I was my scars and the discolorations on my stomach. I was my stomach rolls and my thighs that touch. Fast forward to now and I have spent great amounts of time working towards appreciating both my body and my mind for where they are right now and coming to know that no matter what happens to me, my body will always be my own. I now know that will these things are a part of my body they are not the only thing that makes me beautiful. So yes I do have stretch marks, scars, and stomach rolls(which believe it or not also contribute to my beauty), I have so much more as well. I am my radiant smile. I am my heart that yearns to help others. I am my mind that never gave up even during the toughest of battles. I am me, and I am beautiful and no amount of hurt, violation, or hatred from anyone will ever be able to tamper with the self love I have come in touch with again. #rollsarentjustforcinnamon

A photo posted by Kathleen (@fallingintoselflove) on Dec 4, 2016 at 7:07pm PST

And if you follow Tyler on social media, it's clear she lives by this motto.

From posting countless non-traditional photos of herself in bras to showing off her scars, Tyler always reminds her fans to love yourself first.

In December 2016, the U.S.-based blogger posted several images on social media, writing that accepting your body isn't always so easy, Metro U.K. notes.

"Before I had embarked on my journey of self discovery, I described myself based only on my outer appearances and... the life experiences I had faced… I was my stretch marks and my cellulite. I was my acne and my bushy eyebrows. I was the outer shell of a girl who had been hurt I was my scars and the discolorations on my stomach."

She continued, "I now know that... these things are a part of my body they are not the only thing that makes me beautiful. So yes I do have stretch marks, scars, and stomach rolls (which believe it or not also contribute to my beauty), I have so much more as well. I am my radiant smile. I am my heart that yearns to help others. I am my mind that never gave up even during the toughest of battles. I am me, and I am beautiful and no amount of hurt, violation, or hatred from anyone will ever be able to tamper with the self love I have come in touch with again. #rollsarentjustforcinnamon."

Darling, let's erase the words of hatred we have been wearing for years and paint ourselves in the words of love that we all truly deserve. And as we continue to do so, we will be filling the world with awareness and letting each and every person know that they too are worthy of so much love. #rollsarentjustforcinnamon

A photo posted by Kathleen (@fallingintoselflove) on Dec 15, 2016 at 7:13pm PST

And with the hashtag #StrongNotSkinny filled with beautiful women with toned bodies, curvy assets and six-pack abs, it's refreshing to see so many young women on social media keep it real.

You go, girl!

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Big-headed baby? No worries. This could just be an indication your baby will grow up intelligent.

According to a study by researchers at Edinburgh University, babies born with big heads may be smarter later in life, the Independent reports.

The study, originally published in 2016, looked at data from 100,000 U.K. residents between the ages of 37 and 73.

“Highly significant associations were observed between the cognitive test scores… and many polygenic profile scores, including intracranial volume, infant head circumference and childhood cognitive ability,” researchers said in a statement.

baby big head

Researchers concluded babies born with large heads were more likely to get degrees and score higher on verbal-numerical reasoning tests.

“The study supports an existing theory which says that those with better overall health are likely to have higher levels of intelligence," researchers added.

big head baby

Previous research has found there are several ways to tell if your baby may be a little genius in the making.

Some say a good memory can be linked to being smarter at a later age. If your infant can remember past events, Romper notes, this could be an early sign of intelligence.

Other signs of intelligence include a preference for hanging out with older adults; holding conversations and even poor sleepers.

baby sleeping

Cosmo adds the average circumference size of a baby's head in the U.S. is 13.5 to 14 inches, so babies with heads larger than this were considered to be more intelligent in later years.

And for any parent wondering if a larger head indicates any type of disability, Today's Parent notes this is not true.

"A large cranium could simply be a reflection of a bigger-than-average-headed mom or dad. One thing is for certain, it’s not an indication of a learning disorder or disability," experts note.

However, in rare occasions, a big head could mean a more seriously skull-related problem down the road, but if you are concerned, always talk to your doctor.

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An Ohio man has been charged with cruelty and torture to animals after he allegedly burned a dog to death.

Chad Karka, 40, who lives in the city of Alliance, was arrested Friday after witnesses noticed a dog on fire in a home’s backyard the previous evening, according to WKYC.

They told police that a man chased it then threw it back on a fire ring. He then hit the dog with a wood object and put boxes on top of it. When officers arrived, the animal was dead.

Police believe Karka might have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol, according to WOIO.

40-year-old Chad Karka has been charged with cruelty and torture to animals. (Photo: WJW/Screenshot)

It's unclear if he owned the animal.

People who lived nearby were horrified.

"That's sickening. He ought to go to prison and just stay there, right in there as far as I'm concerned," Linda Long told WJW.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for the beginning of next month.

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FARINDOLA, Italy — Italian emergency crews pulled three wiggling, white sheepdog puppies out Monday from under tons of snow and rubble at an avalanche-struck hotel, lifting spirits even as the search for 22 people still missing dragged on five days after the disaster.

One more body was located, raising the death toll to seven, and the first survivors of the deadly avalanche were released from the hospital. Questions intensified, however, into whether Italian authorities underestimated the risks facing the snowbound resort in the hours before the deadly avalanche.

Five days after up to 60,000 tons of snow, rocks and uprooted trees plowed into the Hotel Rigopiano in central Italy, rescue crews were still digging by hand or with shovels and chainsaws in hopes of finding more survivors. An excavator reached the site, northeast of Rome, to speed up the search.

The discovery of the three Abruzzo sheepdog puppies in the boiler room raised spirits, even as rescuers located a seventh body.

puppy italy hotel avalanche

An Italian Forestry Corp officer officer holds one of three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy on Jan. 23. (Photo: Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

Jubilant emergency crews carried the pups out in their arms, with one firefighter burying his face in the fluffy white fur to give the dog a kiss. The puppies were born last month to the hotel's resident sheepdogs, Nuvola and Lupo, and were prominently featured on the hotel's Facebook page. Their parents had found their own way out after the Wednesday afternoon avalanche.

"They just started barking very softly,'' said Sonia Marini, a member of the Forestry Corps. "In fact, it was hard to find them right away because they were hidden. Then we heard this very tiny bark and we saw them from a little hole the firefighters had opened in the wall. Then we expanded the hole and we pulled them out.''

puppies hotel italy avalanche

Rescuers hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano on Jan. 23. (Photo: Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari, however, stressed that the puppies were found in an isolated part of the hotel and didn't necessarily signal any new hope for finding human survivors.

"We're happy to have saved them, and these are important moments in a dramatic situation,'' he said. "But I don't think there's much correlation with finding other people.''

Nine people have been rescued so far, 22 still missing

Emergency crews have been hoping that the 22 missing people may have found air pockets under the debris, and that the snow would insulate them from the frigid temperatures. But more than two days have passed since anyone has been pulled out alive from the hotel, and rescue crews were still trying to recover one victim from the rubble. Conditions at the site were deteriorating, with the heavy snow turning to ice.

So far nine people have been rescued from the Hotel Rigopiano. The first survivors released Monday from a hospital in the nearby city of Pescara included Giorgia Galassi and her boyfriend, Vincenzo Forti.

"Thank you, thank you everyone!'' Galassi said as she waved from the front door of her parents' home in Giulianova, on the Adriatic coast. Flanked by her parents, she said she felt fine.

"I don't think there's much correlation with finding other people.'' — Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari on finding puppies

Hotel guests Giampiero Parete, his wife and two children were also home. It was Parete who had first sounded the alarm after he by chance left the hotel to go to his car moments before the avalanche hit.

Still hospitalized were one adult and two youngsters, Samuel Di Michelangelo and Edoardo Di Carlo. Officials have confirmed that Edoardo's parents were killed, while Samuel's are still unaccounted for.

"Edoardo has an adult brother, so the brother will be given custody of him,'' Pescara hospital Dr. Rossano Di Luzio told reporters. "Samuel has his close relatives, grandparents at the moment, but we hope we can give him back to his parents.''

Firefighter spokesman Luca Cari said emergency crews were working with an "operational hypothesis'' that people might still be alive, but he stressed "we are fighting against time.''

italy hotel puppies avalanche

In this photo taken on Jan. 17, three puppies stay close to each other at the Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, a day before an avalanche buried the hotel. (Photo: Marisa Basilavecchia/The Associated Press via CP)

The investigation intensified, meanwhile, into whether local government officials underestimated the threat facing the hotel, which was covered with two meters (six feet) of snow, had no phone service and dwindling gas supplies when a series of earthquakes rocked central Italy on the morning of Jan. 18.

Italian newspapers on Monday reproduced what they said was an email sent by the hotel owner to local and provincial authorities that afternoon asking for help.

"The hotel guests are terrorized by the earthquakes and have decided to stay out in the open,'' Bruno Di Tommaso wrote. "We've tried to do everything to keep them calm, but since they can't leave due to the blocked roads, they're prepared to spend the night in their cars.''

The Pescara prefect's office already has faced criticism after a local restaurant owner said his calls reporting the avalanche were ignored. Quintino Marcella said he called the office after receiving word from Parete, one of his chefs who was vacationing at the hotel.

Italian Mountain Rescue Corps "Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico" Soccorso Alpino volunteers and rescuers work in the area of the Hotel Rigopiano on Jan. 22. (Photo: (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/ANSA via AP)

Chief prosecutor Cristina Tedeschini confirmed her investigation was looking into a host of issues, including the timing and content of communications, where the snowplows were deployed, who was alerted when about the risks of avalanches and how authorities responded when the avalanche hit the hotel.

She said there were "incongruities'' between when communications were received and when they were acted on.

But she stressed they may not have had a significant effect on the search effort, given that five days had passed and still the search was ongoing. She said "at most'' the delay in launching the avalanche response was an hour or two.

"I don't see it as being highly relevant,'' she said.

The president of the province, Antonio Di Marco, has confirmed he saw an email from Di Tommaso and had arranged for a snowplow to clear the road that night, the ANSA news agency reported. The avalanche hit sometime before 5:40 p.m., when Marcella received the call from his chef.

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Foxconn, a major assembler of iPhones and other electronics, may invest $7 billion in a plant for manufacturing display panels that would create as many as 50,000 jobs in the U.S.

Foxconn CEO Terry Gou discussed the potential expansion Sunday during a company meeting in Taiwan, the company's home country. Several publications in Taiwan reported Gou's remarks.

softbank masayoshi son donald trump

Donald Trump (left), then the president-elect of the U.S., and SoftBank Group Corp. CEO Masayoshi Son meet with reporters following their talks at Trump Tower in New York on Dec. 6, 2016. Son is a partner of Foxconn, the Taiwan-based company that assembles many iPhone parts. (Photo: Kyodo News via Getty Images)

It's the first time he has provided details about a possible U.S. expansion since one of Foxconn's partners, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, revealed Foxconn was mulling a $7 billion investment after a December meeting with then President-elect Donald Trump.

If the plant is built, Gou said it would work with Foxconn's Sharp subsidiary. He touted Pennsylvania as leading candidate for the plant, but said Foxconn is in discussions with other states, too.

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Jonathan Scott, one half of HGTV's "Property Brothers," is best-known for helping people build their dream homes, and he's also in favour of seeing women achieve their dreams

On Saturday, the Vancouver native took to Facebook to share a sweet message in support of the Women's March that took place across the globe the same day.

"They are our sisters, our mothers, our daughters, our partners and our friends," he wrote. "They are strong, intelligent, courageous women who deserve be be heard. A culture that respects & supports it's women is one destined for great things. #womensmarch"

But while Scott's kind message was met with some few kind responses, other users weren't too impressed with his support of the march.

"Not one of their rights is in jeopardy of being taken away," one woman wrote. "They are marching for no reason other than they don't like that Trump won. Well he did. Grow up and get over it feminists. Real women don't act like shrieking two year olds."

"So women worried about the fact they want to screw anything without protection which is inexpensive to be able to have an expensive abortion because babies are disposable will never put me on their side of this," said another.

Some even threatened to stop watching "Property Brothers" all together.

Fortunately, Scott's response to the negativity was one of love.

Late Saturday, the home reno guru posted a video to his Facebook for the "cyber bullies."

"Fortunately most of our fans are incredible, and they have insightful comments, and I love sharing their stories ... but we also have some people who are just cruel and angry, and no matter what, they just have something negative to say. This is not the place for that. Not to mention that we have a lot of kids who read these posts actively."

"There's a big difference between having a different opinion and always trying to pick a fight."

"We will never all agree on everything, but we should always be willing to look and see if someone’s heart is in the right place," he shared. "And when I see this inspiring situation where strangers have come together all over the world to express their peaceful passions for justice, well that has resonated to areas on the planet where unfortunately people don’t experience the same democratic freedoms that we have. But someday, I hope that they will."

Watch his full statement below.

Thankfully, this time around, the vast majority of comments were positive.

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Sex educator Ericka Hart is no stranger to the spotlight.

The breast-cancer survivor, who identifies as queer, made headlines last year after she went to music festival Afropunk fully topless, proudly showing off her double mastectomy scars, to increase visibility for black women with the disease. So it comes as no surprise that Hart was front and centre for the Women's March, which took place in major cities across the globe this past Saturday.

Attending the protest in Philadelphia, the 30-year-old took to the stage — with her warrior scars once again confidently in full display — to argue the importance of inclusivity in feminism moving forward. And made no qualms about calling out those who have long overlooked the trials of marginalized cis and trans women of colour.

Who is this march for? I have questions. Speaking at 130 in Philly. Come out or check out my live video on Facebook. #stayblack #cooptedmarch #blackliberation #blacklivesmatter

A photo posted by Ericka Hart, M.Ed. (@ihartericka) on Jan 21, 2017 at 8:35am PST

"Not everyone who identifies as a woman has a pussy, nor does your identity as a woman have anything to do with pussy," Hart said.

Many women attending the marches wore pink "pussy hats" in solidarity against President Trump's 2005 remarks on grabbing women "by the pussy." However, Hart doesn't necessarily view the accessory as progressive.

"Who is this for?" she asked, referring to the march itself. "Black cis and trans women, femmes and non-binary individuals have been under attack against gross misogynoir, violence, and body terrorism. We see it everyday, even at this march."

Proud to have marched with these women. Empowered women empower women ✊️

A photo posted by Katie Schoenek-Danks (@shady_k8ee) on Jan 23, 2017 at 10:29am PST

"If you want to talk about pussy, then you must start with the black pussy."

"The trauma of the pussy did not begin with Trump, it began when such a high premium was put on the power of the white one ... If this march was for all women it would look a lot different and would have happened well before the day after the inauguration."

Hart also spoke on the lack of conversations around indigenous and disabled women, as well as sex workers.

Watch her full speech above.

Trans activist and author Janet Mock spoke at the march in Washington on Saturday, sharing similar sentiments to those of Hart's.

"Our approach to freedom need not be identical, but it must be intersectional and inclusive," she said. "It must extend beyond ourselves. I know with surpassing certainty that my liberation is directly linked to the liberation of the undocumented trans Latina yearning for refuge. The disabled student seeking unequivocal access. The sex worker fighting to make her living safely."

Several Twitter users also agreed, taking to the social media platform over the weekend to call out white feminism and push for more inclusivity in the future.

the future is not just female— the future is trans-inclusive, the future is non-binary, the future is intersectional #WomensMarch
— Caroline Conrad (@CPConrad) January 23, 2017

It was inspiring, powerful. But white feminism was on full display at #WomensMarch. Feminism HAS to become inclusivehttps://t.co/JI5tapbH8J
— Francesca Ebel (@FrancescaEbel) January 23, 2017

But that doesn't mean I fully supported the #WomensMarch, because I felt it wasn't fully inclusive of ALL women. -G
— Matthew Galvin (@Galvin4America) January 22, 2017

In Canada, Black Lives Matter Vancouver, who protests against systemic racialized and gender-based violence, released a statement Friday saying they were excluded from their local Women's March — proving that lack of inclusion in the march was a problem globally.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to implement trade deals that put "America first," and said he is even prepared to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement if it fails to do so.

One former president took issue with that sentiment — in 1999.

On Monday, CPAC uploaded archival footage of George H. W. Bush warning Canadians of a growing isolationist movement in his country. The clip, shared on Twitter, was recorded at a conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

Watch the video embedded below:

From the archives: June 1999: George Bush Sr. praises NAFTA, warns Canadians of threat posed by U.S. isolationism & "America First" movement pic.twitter.com/HcNDts9YRX
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) January 23, 2017

"In my country, some people are using uncertainty and ambiguity at the moment to create a momentum for turning America selfishly inward, away from the world," said Bush, who missed Trump's inauguration due to health issues.

"And even though they deny it, they advocate policies that amount to protectionism and isolationism. Their slogans: 'Come home America,' 'America First' — this is selfish. This is beneath the history of our great country, but it's out there and it worries me, this coalition of left and right."

Canada shouldn't be 'enormously worried': official

The Trump administration has already made clear it will reopen NAFTA and, on Monday, the U.S. formally withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal.

The Liberal government has been preparing for its new relationship with the White House since Trump's victory in November.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet this month by appointing Chrystia Freeland to foreign affairs, and retired general Andrew Leslie as her parliamentary secretary. It is hoped Leslie will forge connections with a number of fellow former military commanders who got top jobs under Trump.

Freeland said on Monday that Canada is proud of being part of the "very mutually beneficial" NAFTA and has a strong relationship with Mexico, but she added the country's trade ties with the U.S. are "primarily bilateral."

Stephen Schwarzman, an adviser to the Trump administration, said Trudeau should not be "enormously worried" about any overhaul to trade agreements.

Speaking in Calgary where he met with Trudeau and his cabinet, Schwarzman emphasized the U.S. is primarily concerned with trade deals that involve big imbalances.

That still carries some cause for concern for David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., who says the country could become "collateral damage" as Washington resets relationships with some of its trading partners.

"We will co-operate on trilateral matters when it's in our interest and we'll be looking to do things that are in our interest bilaterally," MacNaughton said. "Some of them may be within NAFTA and some of them may not be."

With files from The Canadian Press

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WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet the new U.S. president within the next several weeks, as the incoming American administration talks to its northern and southern neighbours about a revised North American Free Trade Agreement.

A spokesman for Donald Trump confirmed the upcoming discussions as he held his first daily White House briefing Monday and took questions on trade, counter-terrorism and a dispute over him making misleading statements.

The first NAFTA talks could take place in the U.S., Sean Spicer suggested. He appeared to indicate the leaders would visit Trump. However, in Canada, several officials said specifics of a meeting had yet to be nailed down.

"(Trump) discussed on the phone with both leaders his desire to reform (NAFTA),'' Spicer told reporters. "His goal was to have that discussion when they come in person.''

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes addresses a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 15, 2016.

Spicer said the meetings would happen soon: ''Over the next 30 days or so.''

Trade figured prominently in Trump's first full workday at the White House. The new president officially killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership by formally revoking U.S. participation in the 12-country trade pact.

That multinational agreement had been a pillar of U.S. foreign policy under two administrations, an effort to set American-designed trade standards in China's geographic neighbourhood, and Canada was also a party. However, the deal drew fire from left and right in the last U.S. election and now appears dead.

Trump met business leaders and promised a carrot-and-stick approach: lower taxes and a 75-per-cent reduction in regulations for businesses that stay in the U.S., and tariff-like punishments for businesses that outsource jobs.

Media, Trump team spat over inauguration

Another subplot of the day featured a spat over basic honesty. Spicer admitted he misled reporters on the weekend by exaggerating the number of Washington subway riders on the day of Trump's inauguration.

He said it was an honest mistake and that he had received bad numbers. Spicer did continue to insist that Trump's inauguration crowd was the largest of all time — but he clarified that the claim included live participants, TV viewers and people who watched online.

Attention now turns to NAFTA.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer makes a statement to members of the media at the White House on Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington, DC.

The Canadian government heard a reassuring message in Calgary. A presidential adviser attended a federal cabinet retreat to say Canada need not be "enormously worried'' about trade. Stephen Schwarzman, who leads the president's Strategic and Policy Forum, said the new administration had an "unusually positive'' view of Canada.

"There may be some modifications, but basically things should go well for Canada in terms of any discussions with the United States,'' said Schwarzman, CEO of the Blackstone Group investment firm.

The Canadian government has been hoping to escape the ire that Trump directed at other countries during the campaign — he almost never mentioned Canada and in fact brushed off the idea of a northern border wall when asked about it.

"Basically things should go well for Canada."

The Trudeau government has hinted it could even seek to preserve a one-on-one deal with the U.S., should NAFTA fall apart.

"The reality is that we will do what is in Canada's interest,'' said David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., when asked in a December interview about the possibility of an agreement without Mexico.

A former Bush-era trade secretary urged the parties to save the trilateral pact.

trump

U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to sign several executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Robert Zoellick said breaking up the NAFTA zone would be a strategic setback for North America — and he encourages Canada and Mexico to work together, even by sharing information and intelligence during trade talks.

"I've heard some Canadian voices say, 'Hey, remember, we've got the Canada free trade agreement. If you lose NAFTA, we've still got one — (and it's) back to 1988.' I think that would be deeply unfortunate,'' the former U.S. trade representative told a panel discussion last week at Washington's Wilson Center.

He said Canada might also consider aligning itself with any bilateral deal between Trump and the United Kingdom, as it leaves the European Union. He called it an opportunity, at a time other doors are closing: "In trade, if you're not on offence you're on defence. It's better to be pushing open markets as opposed to closed markets.''

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CALGARY — An Alberta judge says a Calgary woman who treated her son with holistic remedies before he died of a strep infection "gambled away'' his life and is guilty of criminal negligence causing death.

Justice Kristine Eidsvik also issued a judicial stay on a second charge against Tamara Lovett of failing to provide the necessaries of life.

Lovett gave her seven-year-old son Ryan dandelion tea and oil of oregano when he developed the infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days in March 2013.

"Ms. Lovett took an obvious and seriously incredible risk with Ryan's health and well-being by taking it on herself to diagnose what remedies would be useful for Ryan without the assistance of more medically qualified help,'' Eidsvik said Monday.

Tamara Lovett is charged with failing to provide the necessities of life and criminal negligence causing death in the 2013 death of her child, Ryan. (Photo: Canadian Press)

"By doing so and administering dandelion tea, for instance, instead of getting him some penicillin, which would have been administered by any doctor, she gambled away Ryan's life.

"She took a risk that no reasonable parent would have taken at that point and her actions amounted to recklessness and wilful blindness.''

Lovett, 48, told police she thought her son had a cold or the flu.

Alberta's chief medical examiner testified at Lovett's trial that the boy's body was full of group A streptococcus bacteria, which caused most of his major organs to fail.

"Her actions amounted to a wanton and reckless disregard for the life and safety of her son Ryan.''

A couple of days before he died, he was complaining of pain in his leg, his eyes became jaundiced and he couldn't stand on his own, she said during a police interview.

"Ms. Lovett did indeed know the level of Ryan's suffering but made the deliberate choice not to seek medical care. Doing the best she could was in fact not the best she could do,'' said Eidsvik.

"She knew he was getting worse and yet continued along the same course until it was too late. Her actions amounted to a wanton and reckless disregard for the life and safety of her son Ryan.''

Boy did not have a birth certificate or health card

The judge also noted Ryan did not have a birth certificate or a health-care card.

Eidsvik ordered a psychiatric assessment of Lovett before sentencing arguments go ahead. Lovett did not react when the verdicts were delivered, but seemed confused when the tests were ordered.

"I don't understand what is happening here,'' she said.

Lovett will remain free on bail until her next appearance June 19.

Crown prosecutor Jonathan Hak said the judge was correct with her harsh criticisms of Lovett's behaviour.

"The way Tamara Lovett treated her son, although she loved him dearly, his fate was sealed the way she dealt with this very serious illness,'' said Hak.

"There's no winners, none at all in a case like that. She lost her son."

Defence lawyer Alain Hepner is hoping to keep his client out of jail at sentencing.

"There's no winners, none at all in a case like that. She lost her son. I know the judge was very hard on her,'' Hepner said outside court.

"You recall her demeanour during several days of the trial — she was in tears in the prisoner's dock, watching videos, watching her statement. It was difficult, it was emotional. It was hard for everyone in that courtroom.''

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Millions of protesters around the world marched to promote women's rights this weekend in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday.

Now, activists are looking to their next target — Trump's tax returns.

Trump promised during the campaign he would release his tax returns after he was done being audited. But now, his advisor Kellyanne Conway says the president has no plans to release anything, according to The Washington Post.

Trump is the only major party nominee to not release his tax returns since 1976.

Protesters, looking to galvanize momentum after a successful weekend, called for anti-Trump demonstrations on April 15 — a day which is usually the filing deadline for U.S. tax returns (since it falls on a Saturday this year, taxes are actually due on April 18).

Trump claims no one cares about his taxes. The next mass protest should be on Tax Day to prove him wrong.
— Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) January 22, 2017

I ENDORSE THIS 100%. This is the next march. This is the next demonstration. Please RT, everyone. Every city. https://t.co/lgVLknPnnG
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 23, 2017

Pssst. April 15 is a Saturday, and someone hasn't released his taxes yet. What do you think about marching again? #TrumpTaxesMarch
— Tim Eldred (@TimJEldred) January 23, 2017

I totally support this: Next mass protest day is Tax Day. Now known as Show Us Your Taxes Day.
— Ali Davis (@Ali_Davis) January 23, 2017

Beau Willimon, showrunner of the dystopian Washington drama "House of Cards," weighed in, offering tips on exactly how to ensure the protests happen.

"The demand is clear-cut: hard- working, tax-paying Americans want Trump to release his tax returns. We want transparency," Willimon wrote.

2. Team up with a local organization in your area that will sponsor. Work with them to get proper permits to ensure a smooth, peaceful event
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) January 23, 2017

Saturday's Women's Marches likely drew over three million participants in the U.S. alone, according to the statisticians at FiveThirtyEight.

Trump responded to the protests on Twitter, first calling out celebrity protesters, before acknowledging the role of peaceful protest in democracy.

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

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