You are presumed to be honest and responsible without evidence to the contrary beyond a reasonable doubt… on the balance of probablilties you are justified by 51 % likelyhood.
I was taken by the ice mummy Otzi lately. That 5 Millennium frozen hunter with bow seemed surreal when thinking of my generational timeline with its limited connection to physical contributes.
The assertion that someone loved and was connected to that individual and tattooed his arthritis toned joints in either a prescription of charcoal for inflammation relief or perhaps a prayer to the maker for relief. This maybe including a measure of penance; it captivatvates my sense of wonder.
Archaeology doesn’t find old bones alone but finds us over and over again.
Atom Egoyan’s 1997 masterpiece *The Sweet Hereafter* is a towering achievement in Canadian cinema. It captures the haunting, quiet reality of a small town fractured by unimaginable loss.
## 1. How It Came to Be & The Real-World Accident
The film is an adaptation of the 1991 novel by American author Russell Banks. Banks was directly inspired by a horrific, real-world tragedy: the **1989 Alton, Texas school bus crash**. In that actual accident, a beverage truck struck a school bus, sending it plunging into a water-filled gravel pit, where 21 children drowned.While the book and movie capture the core emotional fallout of that disaster, **the script departs heavily from the logistics of the real event:** * **The Location:** The setting was shifted from the flat, hot terrain of south Texas to a snowy, isolated mountain community. Egoyan beautifully grounded this setting by filming on location in the interior of British Columbia—specifically around **Merritt**. * **The Cause:** In the real Texas crash, the truck driver was clearly at fault, and the subsequent legal battle became a massive, multi-million-dollar feeding frenzy resulting in over $150 million in settlements. In the film, the cause of the crash is entirely ambiguous. The bus simply slides off the road and through the thin ice of a lake, turning the legal battle into a search for a phantom “deep pocket” scapegoat.
## 2. Who Was Affected (And Who Was Not)
The film is less about the accident itself and more about how grief either builds walls or tears them down. Egoyan masterfully charts the ripples across the town: * **The Deeply Affected:** * **Billy Ansel (Bruce Greenwood):** The local mechanic who was driving directly behind the bus, waving to his twin children when the vehicle slid into the lake. He is entirely destroyed by the loss, opting to drown his grief in alcohol and an affair, fiercely opposing the lawsuit because no amount of money “can raise the dead.” * **Dolores Driscoll (Gabrielle Rose):** The beloved, long-time school bus driver. Though she survives, she carries the crushing weight of the town’s unspoken doubt. * **Mitchell Stephens (Ian Holm):** The big-city class-action lawyer. Though he wasn’t part of the town, he is deeply affected because the tragedy mirrors his own personal nightmare—he is actively losing his estranged daughter to a severe drug addiction and HIV. He channels his personal, helpless rage into the town’s lawsuit, insisting there is “no such thing as an accident.” * **The “Spared” or Manipulative:** * **Nichole Burnell (Sarah Polley):** A teenage aspiring rocker who survives the crash but is left paralyzed from the waist down. Her relationship to the tragedy is deeply complicated by a dark secret: she was being sexually abused by her father. * **Sam Burnell (Tom McCamus):** Nichole’s father, who is largely unaffected by genuine moral grief and is instead eager to use his daughter’s injury to secure a massive financial windfall from the lawsuit.In a pivotal twist, Nichole realizes the lawsuit is tearing the community apart and enriching her abusive father. During her legal deposition, she lies under oath, claiming Dolores was speeding. Because Dolores has no “deep pockets” to sue, Nichole’s lie single-handedly kills the lawsuit. By making Dolores the town’s collective scapegoat, Nichole forces the town to drop the legal warfare and finally face their grief together.
## 3. The Financial Reality: Did It Make Money?
Financially, *The Sweet Hereafter* was not a commercial blockbuster, but it was a textbook example of a successful independent film.Produced on a modest budget of approximately **$5 million CAD**, it grossed roughly **$8 million USD** worldwide across its domestic and international theatrical runs. While those numbers seem small, for a quiet, deeply melancholic Canadian drama, it comfortably recouped its production costs through international distribution, home video, and television rights.
## 4. Intrinsic Value & Impact
The true legacy of *The Sweet Hereafter* lies entirely in its staggering intrinsic value. It is widely and consistently voted by critics and historians as **one of the greatest Canadian films ever made**, often ranking in the top three of all time alongside films like *Mon Oncle Antoine*.“` [ 1997 Cannes Film Festival ] Grand Prix | FIPRESCI Sci-Fi Critic’s Prize | Ecumenical Jury Prize“`At the Academy Awards, it achieved rare crossover success for an indie film, earning Atom Egoyan nominations for both **Best Director** and
**Best Adapted Screenplay**.
Not trite KDG
Its intrinsic worth comes from its refusal to offer easy, Hollywood-style closure. Assisted by Mychael Danna’s haunting, medieval-inspired musical score and Paul Sarossy’s brilliant widescreen cinematography, the film captures the exact texture of winter grief. It doesn’t treat trauma as a problem to be solved by a courtroom check, but as a quiet, heavy landscape that a community simply has to learn how to live in.
The tourist association of BC makes a friend with Tumbler Ridge with a great present of $5,000 in a recovery grant for resilience in that community.
Engagement is support with feeling we think. The hands that reach out are the hands that pray thee for success.
The presentation was to the Tumbler Ridge resiliency fund received by Jesse Olson director of community development. Presented by Clint Fraser CEO of Northwest BC tourist association, via British Columbia tourist association Chief Exec Amber Papou.
Child exploitation refers to the abuse and mistreatment of children for various forms of gain, including economic, sexual, or political benefits. This exploitation can take different forms, like child labor, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation. In these situations, children are often coerced or manipulated into performing illegal activities or engaging in commercial sex acts. Such exploitation encompasses a wide range of violations of children’s rights. It can have severe and lasting impacts on their physical and emotional well-being. Efforts to combat child exploitation involve legal measures, education, and advocacy to protect vulnerable children from harm.
There are many organizations that offer listening and counseling services across British Columbia, Canada, and the United States.Here is a breakdown of organizations, when you should seek help, and how to access it:
Organizations and listening
1. Organizations with Listening and Counseling CapacityThese organizations range from immediate crisis support to long-term professional counseling, often with free or low-cost options.Immediate Crisis/Distress Lines (Canada & US)| Service | Jurisdiction | Focus | Contact Info ||—|—|—|—|| 988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline | Canada & US (National) | Suicidal thoughts, mental health crisis, or distress. | Call or Text 988 (24/7, free) || Crisis Text Line | Canada & US | Crisis intervention via text. | Text HOME to 741741 (US) or Text CONNECT to 686868 (Canada) || Talk Suicide Canada | Canada (National) | Suicide prevention and intervention. | Call 1-833-456-4566 (24/7) || 1-800-SUICIDE | British Columbia | BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line. | Call 1-800-784-2433 (24/7) || BC Mental Health Support Line | British Columbia | Support, information, and resources. | Call 310-6789 (No area code, 24/7) || Hope for Wellness Helpline | Canada (Indigenous focus) | Immediate mental health and crisis intervention for all Indigenous peoples. | Call 1-855-242-3310 (24/7) || Trans Lifeline | Canada & US | Crisis support for trans people, by trans people. | Call 1-877-330-6366 (Canada) or 1-877-565-8860 (US) |General Mental Health & Counseling Resources| Organization/Resource | Jurisdiction | Focus & Services ||—|—|—|| HealthLink BC (811) | British Columbia | Non-emergency health information and resources, including mental health. Nurses available 24/7. || BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) | British Columbia | Specialized treatment for complex mental health and substance use disorders. || Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre | British Columbia | Navigating the mental health system, peer support, resources for children, youth, and families. || NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) | United States (National) | Education, support, and advocacy for people affected by mental illness. HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264. || Open Path Collective | Canada & US (Non-profit) | Connects clients to private practice mental health professionals for affordable rates (e.g., $30-$70 USD per session). || 2-1-1 | Canada & US (Community service) | Information and referral for social, community, and government supports (including mental health services). || SAMHSA National Helpline | United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) | Referral for treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). || Mental Health America (MHA) | United States (National) | Public education, advocacy, and resources for finding treatment. || Local Community Health Centres/Clinics | All Jurisdictions | Often provide free or low-cost individual and group counseling, check local listings. || Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) | Workplace/Employer | Many employers offer EAPs that provide free, confidential short-term counseling for employees and their families.
When to seek
|2. When to Seek Counseling/Listening SupportIt’s time to seek help when your current coping mechanisms are not working, and the distress or negative symptoms are significantly interfering with your daily life, relationships, work, or school for a period of two weeks or more.Key signs that it’s time to reach out: * Emotional Changes: Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or irritability that won’t go away. * Behavioral Changes: * Withdrawing from friends, family, or social activities you once enjoyed. * Significant changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping too much or too little). * Significant changes in appetite or weight. * Increased reliance on alcohol, drugs, gambling, or other coping mechanisms. * Trouble concentrating or completing tasks at work or school. * Cognitive Changes: * Thoughts of self-harm or suicide (seek immediate crisis support). * Feeling disconnected from reality or experiencing delusions/hallucinations. * Overwhelming worry or fear that is constant and uncontrollable. * Physical Symptoms: Frequent, unexplained physical ailments like headaches, stomachaches, or chronic pain. * After a Trauma or Loss: If you’ve experienced a major loss, traumatic event, or life transition and feel unable to process or cope with the emotions.
Access
3. How to Access HelpStep 1: Determine the Urgency * If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or having suicidal thoughts: Call 911 or use one of the 24/7 Crisis Lines (like 988 or 1-800-SUICIDE). * If you are distressed but not in immediate crisis: Proceed to the next steps.Step 2: Start with Accessible Resources (Crisis Lines or Primary Care) * Non-Emergency Phone Lines: Call a non-crisis line like 310-6789 (BC) or the NAMI HelpLine (US) for immediate listening support, information, and referrals. * Contact Your Doctor: Your family doctor (or a nurse practitioner/walk-in clinic doctor) can assess your needs, offer basic mental health support, prescribe initial medication, and provide a referral to a specialist (like a psychiatrist or counsellor).
Affordability
Step 3: Explore Affordable Counseling Options * Public/Government Services: In Canada, many mental health services are covered by provincial health plans. Ask your doctor for referrals to local mental health services or call your region’s health line (811 in BC). * University/College Clinics: Many institutions have low-cost counseling clinics staffed by students under the supervision of licensed professionals. * Non-Profits/Community Organizations: Contact local organizations like MOSAIC (in BC) or other community health centres which often offer free or sliding-scale counseling based on income. * Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): If you work, check if your employer offers an EAP—it’s free and confidential.Step 4: Search for a Private Counselor * Use online directories (like Psychology Today or national associations) to filter by your needs, insurance coverage, and if they offer a sliding scale fee. * Organizations like Open Path Collective are dedicated to providing affordable, vetted therapists.
Our co council from the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council, Jackie. Recently passed from this life. photo KDG.
Fondly remembered and offered the chair to the incumbent president at the AGM she was instrumental in the preservation of arts and it’s orderly transition in the City of Merritt.
Complete with the amalgamation of the organizations, Visual artists of Merritt and the Community Arts Council. As she saw as a member, the groups moved from the courthouse gallery into their place of business now at the corner of Nicola and Voght.
Her quiet charm was always a comfort and her movements within the organization always generated a sense of wellness. She will be missed.
Today I’m thankful for the many things that have helped get me through my first two lymphoma treatments that have caused side effects each time and many trips to the doctor’s office for bloodwork, but on the good days I remember what it’s like to feel good again. I’m very grateful for my niece’s fabulous […]
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?
This place conintates too much lost opportunity. K
Regenerated loss
The area known as Ukraine is not on my bucket list to visit because the grief would be clear. The lost opportunity, the driver, waste, and the sense of hopelessness over the thought that the world never learns would cause me to shake my head and dismiss my perspective as being only worthy of crass comment. K
Adventureism and power
This conflict is important because it impacts regional stability, humanitarian issues, and international relations. It affects many people, causing displacement, resource loss, and rising tensions between neighboring countries. Additionally, how the global community responds could influence future conflicts, affecting foreign policy and aid strategies. Grasping the causes and effects is key to finding effective solutions and promoting lasting peace.
The 88-year-old pontiff born in Argentina was noted as a progressive and poverty and compassion. Dead in Rome after serving on the Easter weekend officially … He was in Ill health.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 
Mercy has bounds…
Tiff lightbox March 29 2025
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