Suite C1-310 Danforth AveToronto ON M4K 1N6Canada
As safety concerns grow in a polarized America
more United Church of Christ ministers are looking to transfer their membership
Anthony Williams is watching what’s happening in Trump’s America and fears his grandchildren will be made to sit “at the back of the bus.” Williams
is one of 21 American ministers who have recently made inquiries to The United Church of Canada about transferring to Canada — a spike the denomination says is unprecedented
Since Donald Trump took office for the second time in January
the number of inquiries that The United Church of Canada has received from American clergy in the United Church of Christ looking to relocate has significantly increased
The inquiring clergy are hoping to transfer from the United Church of Christ in the U.S
to The United Church of Canada through a mutual recognition agreement between the denominations
It allows clergy to serve in the United Church through their credentials in their home denomination
The United Church of Canada holds this agreement with the United Church of Christ in the U.S.
the United Church of Christ in the Philippines
and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
3 churches on the Canada/U.S. border grapple with political tensions
the United Church program coordinator for admission and recruitment
guides clergy through this process and says that the ministers recently inquiring about relocation to Canada do not come from a particular demographic or region in the U.S.
but what unites them is a general feeling of vulnerability
or express that they don’t feel as safe as they used to and they want to move to Canada,” she says
who is an ordained United Church of Christ minister and the director of King International Ministry in Chicago
a social justice ministry that addresses violence as a public health crisis
says he might have to make the choice to relocate to Canada not just for himself
“I had to look at the future as it relates to my children and my grandchildren in terms of possibly providing another opportunity for them in a great country like Canada who has been a friend and a partner with America for many years,” he says
“I can’t allow my grandson to be on the back of the bus in America.” He also said he thinks that now
“no one is safe,” but that these problems did not start with Trump
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“He was able to address those prejudices in a lot of people
All Trump did was just pull back the covers,” he says
“America’s problem is that it has become oversaturated with violence
and it is now being injected into the veins of American institutions.”
“People are beginning to recognize the importance of their citizenship
is because people took their citizenship for granted,” he says
Williams doesn’t take the decision to move lightly
“I think that this opportunity to go to Canada
allows me to have a relationship and a bond with the denomination in Canada,” he says
Williams and his wife are considering Montreal
the rest of their family might follow them
“I just thank God there’s an option on the table to take,” he says
Evgenia Shestunova is an intern at Broadview
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Student residents of The Broadview at Vanderbilt can now pick up their groceries just steps from where they study. The residential community—which was completed in 2023 and houses a number of graduate and professional students—welcomes The Turnip Truck to the fold
The local natural grocer is the community’s second tenant
joining Nashville-based café 8th and Roast and bringing organic produce
The Broadview at Vanderbilt is the university’s first public-private partnership
The 616-unit complex features a public courtyard
fitness center and 6,500 square feet of collaboration and study workspaces
The collaborative workspaces are open to all Vanderbilt students
Students can access the space for individual or group study sessions by using their Commodore Card
Read more on the Broadview project
Nashville, Tennessee 37240
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Detectives are investigating a shooting that left a 27-year-old man seriously injured in the Broadview neighborhood of North Seattle on Thursday
a dispatcher received a report of a shooting in the 12200 block of Ridgemont Way North
Officers arrived to find the man in a vehicle
suffering from gunshot wounds to the torso and arm
Police provided life-saving efforts until the Seattle Fire Department arrived on the scene
The victim was then transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle shortly after the shooting and is currently not in custody
Detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) prevents crime
and supports quality public safety by delivering respectful
SPD operates within a framework that divides the city into five geographical areas called "precincts"
A lawsuit against the Alamance-Burlington school system has made its way through the state’s courts and is now to be considered in the North Carolina Supreme Court over an unlicensed teacher’s alleged assault on a student a Broadview Middle School in the fall of 2022
The lawsuit was originally filed in Alamance County superior court by a guardian-ad-litem for the student – a juvenile female who is referred to by the initials K.H
and was 14 at the time of the alleged assault – and her maternal grandmother
the plaintiffs are asking the state’s highest court to determine whether the Court of Appeals erred in siding with the school board by dismissing the suit in October 2024
who is referred to by the pseudonym “Katherine” in the new brief pending in the state Supreme Court
claims to have been denied her state constitutional right to a sound basic education by the school board’s “deliberate indifference” in allowing an unlicensed teacher to brutally assault her and then forcing the victim to transfer to another middle school
The suit was previously dismissed following a hearing in Alamance County superior court in April 2023
a special judge for complex business cases for the North Carolina 4th Superior Court division
granted the school board’s to dismiss the lawsuit
concluding that ABSS hadn’t waived its right of immunity through the purchase of liability insurance
according to the Alamance County court file
The now-former teacher at the center of the dispute
had been hired to teach language arts at Broadview Middle School in September 2022
despite not having been licensed to teach in a North Carolina public school
Dixon been hired on a one-year contract through the end of June 2023
but her contract was terminated several weeks prior to its scheduled expiration
based on a personnel report that school board members on June 13
and her guardian-ad-litem appealed Robinson’s dismissal of the lawsuit on grounds that ABSS had deprived the student of her constitutional right to a sound basic education
In the new brief that is currently pending in the N.C
the plaintiffs recount the moments just before Dixon allegedly assaulted “Katherine” on November 2
“Katherine forgot her bookbag in her middle school teacher’s classroom,” the factual background states
she accidentally bumped into her teacher’s arm
her teacher grabbed Katherine by the hair and slammed her head into the ground five times
the teacher held Katherine against the ground
even as other students implored the teacher to let Katherine go
“While Katherine was held against the ground by her hair
the teacher screamed at Katherine to leave the classroom
two other teachers had to enter the classroom before Katherine was released
‘Swift and appalling’ response from school board
“The response from [the school board] was swift and appalling,” the factual background states
They also point out that the teacher was still employed at Broadview Middle School when the lawsuit was first filed in Alamance County superior court in January 2023
“The [school board] was also aware that in the months leading up to the assault
Dixon had committed several other acts of misconduct with students in her classroom and had been disciplined by the principal multiple times
the board did not remove Dixon from the classroom
Even after Dixon slammed Katherine’s head into the ground five times
the board suspended Katherine – the victim – was ultimately forced to transfer to a different school.”
– Brief filed on behalf of Broadview Middle School student
the plaintiffs cite a 2021 ruling in Deminski v
Supreme Court that originated in Pitt County
In a unanimous opinion written by chief justice Paul Newby
the Supreme Court concluded a claim could be brought under the N.C
Constitution over a school board’s “deliberate indifference” to harassment
The plaintiffs contend that the school board was “deliberately indifferent” to Dixon’s lack of qualifications in hiring her and “remained deliberately indifferent as it allowed her to teach in a North Carolina public middle school while remaining unlicensed
Dixon had committed several other acts of misconduct with students in her classroom and had been disciplined by the principal multiple times,” the plaintiffs allege
The Appeals Court ultimately split 2-1 in dismissing the suit against ABSS last fall
“Operating from a mistaken view of the facts
the Court of Appeals majority held that a single incident of physical abuse can never deny a student her right to a sound basic education
no matter how severe that incident is,” the plaintiffs state in their brief filed in the N.C
Dissenting Appeals Court judge: suit should be allowed to proceed on constitutional claim
“A dissenting judge disagreed,” the plaintiffs state in their new brief
“While recognizing that Katherine had alleged more than just a single incident
the dissenting judge further explained why the Court of Appeals’ holding was wrong regardless
Deminski did not hold that a child must suffer multiple instances of physical or sexual assault before she can vindicate her right to a sound basic education
the test is whether the government showed deliberate indifference
and a variety of factual circumstances can meet that standard.”
[the defendant school board] was deliberately indifferent to the hostile environment it created when it placed an individual with no teaching license in a position of authority to instruct academic classes and to supervise children in its public school; failed to adequately staff that school; failed to investigate
or ensure that Dixon had the requisite academic
and care for students in that school; and failed to take action when Dixon’s concerning behaviors first arose.”
whose dissent sided with student that she had been denied her basic right under N.C.’s Constitution to receive a sound basic education
Appeals Court judge Hunter Murphy concluded that the suit against ABSS should be allowed to proceed under the alleged violation of the student’s constitutional right to a sound basic education
(He agreed with the Appeals Court majority that the plaintiff’s claim for monetary damages against ABSS was barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity.)
“Taken as true,” Murphy wrote in his dissent
“[the defendant school board] was deliberately indifferent to the hostile environment it created when it placed an individual with no teaching license in a position of authority to instruct academic classes and to supervise children in its public school; failed to adequately staff that school; failed to investigate
“The Court of Appeals correctly held that a one-time incident of inappropriate criminal conduct by a staff member did not give rise to a constitutional claim
and that the other allegations in the complaint did not show the board was deliberately indifferent or that K.H
was denied access to a sound basic education.”
ABSS continues to maintain that it had not infringed upon the student’s right to a sound basic education
was denied access to a sound basic education,” ABSS contends in the new brief that was filed in the Supreme Court two weeks ago
Citing several recent opinions issued by the Appeals Court that dealt with alleged constitutional violations by law enforcement
“North Carolina courts have long held that adequacy of a state law remedy depends upon the injury alleged by a plaintiff
rather than upon the party from whom a plaintiff seeks recovery.”
Though the plaintiff’s claim for monetary damages have been dismissed and aren’t at issue in the Supreme Court case
ABSS contends that the student (K.H./Katherine) “continues to have an adequate state law remedy for her injuries” and therefore “cannot assert a direct constitutional claim.”
The fact that the student had to transfer to the alternative school
“is insufficient to establish a constitutional violation,” ABSS asserts in its new brief
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
a plaintiff must show that the program itself was somehow inadequate to provide the opportunity for a sound basic education
“The complaint is entirely devoid of allegations regarding the adequacy of the alternative school and…is silent as to the nature
and quality of educational opportunities made available to K.H
‘Not a right to a perfect or flawless education’
School Boards Association (NCSBA) filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of ABSS
“Reversing this decision would upend liability and risk for public education in this state
significantly reduce resources available for instruction
and force today’s school children and communities to bear the costs for the [civil suits] of others.”
School Boards Association siding with ABSS
“The Court of Appeals of North Carolina rightly affirmed the Honorable Michael L
Robinson’s order dismissing the plaintiff’s claim that she was denied her constitutional right to a sound basic education,” the NCSBA asserts in its 16-page brief
“Reversing this decision would upend liability and risk for public education in this state
The lawsuit has not yet been scheduled for oral arguments before the state Supreme Court
The historic and now rehabbed Broadview Hotel in East St. Louis opened Friday as the “New Broadview” — a 110-unit apartment building for those over 55 years old
developers and affordable housing advocates believe the former hotel’s $44.5 million restoration will serve as an anchor of economic development in the Metro East city that’s seen a depleted population and tax base in recent decades
“It is our hope that this development has a catalytic impact on the downtown community,” said Yaphett El-Amin
president and CEO of Efficacy Consulting & Development
In addition to one-bedroom units priced at $709 per month and two-bedroom units at $822
gym and space in the basement for business incubators
El-Amin said 10% of the units will be reserved for veterans
The vision to rehabilitate the former hotel
riddled with plywood-boarded windows and graffiti
Restoring the 140,000-square-foot building came together via a public-private funding partnership with more than 10 different funding sources — or a “smorgasbord,” El-Amin said
A little more than $20 million came from the Illinois Housing Development Agency
Another $7 million came from historic tax credits
$1.5 million from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants and $2 million in earmarks for the Illinois General Assembly
A handful of residents have already moved into the senior living facility
“They could not have picked a better building to resurrect and allow the senior citizens to move into,” Thomas said
City leaders and the building’s developers believe Thomas and other current residents will not be the only people who move to East St
“As we continue to strengthen and build our city's economy,” said Mayor Charles Powell III
“developments such as this will serve as a reminder to our citizens
those with business and those looking to open business that East St
Louis is always and will be a great place to live and work.”
located one block northeast of the Broadview
meaning they are eligible for tax credits designed to restore aging buildings and could be attractive to potential developers
The city of Rockford in northern Illinois serves as a model that El-Amin and her group want to replicate with rehabbing the historic buildings
Louis Arch dominates the skyline to the west
I believe that this building will dominate the skyline on the east side,” said state Sen
The opening with the New Broadway coincides with a religious nonprofit constructing 20 $360,000 houses farther east in town to attract middle-class residents
Ohio — Let's get the obvious joke out of the way: We're not sure if a "Nigerian prince" was behind it
police are warning against increasingly convincing attempts to steal people's property in Northeast Ohio
two different property owners reported to Broadview Heights police that they learned their vacant lots were up for sale
The problem was — they didn't list them for sale
police were able to link the fraudulent seller and their online profile to the same phone number
"That number was an international phone number that came back to Nigeria," Detective Sergeant Ryan Fewell with Broadview Heights police said
"Also the IP address information for the logins also were linked to Nigeria
You can use a VPN to spoof the information as well
that doesn’t necessarily mean someone is sitting in Nigeria and is responsible
but a lot of times these will come from out of state or out of the country."
the police report details how a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker listed a vacant piece of land along Diana Drive in early March
The homeowner discovered the sign and explained he had no intention of selling the property
That lot was vacant after the homeowner's house burned down in 2017
That real estate agent told police that someone had called him claiming to be the homeowner
"We haven’t experienced it much here," Fewell said
but a couple weeks later we did experience a very similar case."
police received another call about a vacant piece of property along Broadview Road
involving a different owner and a different real estate agent
That agent told police all his correspondence with the "seller" was done through phone calls and emails
"All the added technology that has made our lives easier has also made it easier for scammers to get our stuff," Fewell said
Police were able to intervene and shut down the listings for both properties before a sale could be completed
News 5 spoke with one of the real estate agents involved
He said he received an email and then spoke on the phone with the “seller.”
The agent said he even ran a background check on the seller
adding that people need to stay on top of their property
"Don’t let things go unnoticed for months on end," Fewell said
"Don’t let a piece of property sit without driving past it
News 5 tried calling that number tied to Nigeria
Fewell said the actual property owners spotted the for-sale listings quickly
and police were able to remove them before the properties could be sold
These two cases mark the latest instances in Northeast Ohio where a criminal tried to steal someone’s property
Boston Heights police began investigating a similar situation
News 5 reported throughout the year on three different property owners who saw their vacant land and rental homes transferred out of their name from fraudulent deed transfer documents:
lengthy court battles were required to reclaim the property
How can you protect yourself from deed theft and fraudulent listings
Experts told News 5 that time is crucial in cases like this
The more time a criminal has to sell your property and run off with the money
That’s why many Ohio counties offer free property alerts
a way to notify you if any properties of yours have transferred on the day it happens
To sign up for a free property alert provided by your county of residence
click on your county where your property is located below:
property alerts are unable to protect against property theft until it has already happened
a property alert to the homeowner would not have been sent (unless the criminal was able to successfully sell the home before the homeowners and police noticed)
Clay LePard is a special projects reporter at News 5 Cleveland
on Facebook Clay LePard News 5 or email him at Clay.LePard@WEWS.com
Download the News 5 Cleveland app now for more stories from us
Download now on your Apple device here, and your Android device here
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Ohio (WOIO) - The East Wallings Road bridge over I-77 is scheduled to close on April 7 for about one year
It is well overdue for a replacement,” says Gene Esser
Broadview Heights Police said there will be no access to the I-77 South exit and entrance ramps to Wallings Road will also be closed
“We are going to widen it to a three lane section to minimize traffic congestion on that bridge,” says Esser
“We have a nice bypass around the bridge by heading south on East Mill to West Mill that will allow for traffic flow to utilize the ramps on the North side,” says Esser
Police will be increasing patrols in the area to monitor traffic
Anyone with questions is invited to attend the informational meeting with the Broadview Heights Engineering Department on March 31 from 5-7 p.m
by October 2026 we should be completely done with the project,” says Esser
The meeting will be held in city council chambers at 9543 Broadview Rd
Progressive movement faces a reckoning as Singh steps down and Conservatives surge
His voice was unsteady as he repeatedly raised a glass of water to his lips
he confirmed what many had expected: he would step down as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP)
may mark the end of an era for Canada’s political left — a movement with historic ties to Canadian progressive Christianity
The federal election ushered in a minority government for Mark Carney’s Liberals
while Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives made major gains — marking a decisive shift to the right
“There’s no doubt it’s a devastating loss [for the party],” says Jonathan Malloy
a political science professor at Carleton University
It was a very bad night for the NDP.” He attributes the collapse in part to fears of Donald Trump
with many voters turning to Carney as a safeguard
long seen as Canada’s political conscience
also fell below the 12-seat threshold for official party status — losing key privileges such as research funding
when Jack Layton led the “Orange Wave” to 103 seats and official Opposition status
this recent defeat carries sharper implications — not just for the NDP
What 4 major party leaders have said about their faith
New Ontario MPP Rev. Alexa Gilmour on her call to politics
Here’s what it will take to fix our economy
who ran and lost as the NDP candidate in Brantford–Brant South–Six Nations
also calls the result “devastating.” While the majority of NDP voters wanted a Carney government
some long-time NDP strongholds like Windsor West and Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk flipped — not to Liberals
these blue-collar ridings are shifting right
Malloy says this mirrors political shifts in the U.S
“The Conservatives are no longer necessarily the upper-class party,” he explains
Many tradespeople earn solid wages but still feel left behind by progressive elites
“The Conservatives really appealed to that.”
But Gajerski-Cauley doesn’t think voters have rejected progressive ideals altogether
“Without this existential threat to our sovereignty and our economic dependence
I don’t believe people would have completely abandoned us,” she says
“It’s not that those folks abandoned our values.”
She concedes that Conservatives excel at punchy
Where Conservatives offer digestible promises — like tax cuts — New Democrats propose structural reforms that are harder to explain in a sound bite
A United Church minister who joined the NDP decades ago
Gajerski-Cauley says the party’s values still deeply align with her faith
“The values and vision of the NDP resonate most with the United Church,” she says
Her decision to run was rooted in activism and the flexibility afforded by her downtown ministry at Silver Spire United
where demand for meals and shelter has surged
“I just don’t see anybody doing anything about it… and it’s just getting worse,” she says
“We’re all called to try to change the system for the better — for the people who can’t.”
neither the Liberals nor Conservatives feel connected to the daily struggles she sees
Inspired by the Baptist preacher Tommy Douglas and the NDP’s social gospel roots
she views political activism as an extension of her ministry
“How do we create good community?” she asks
“We are so good at loving kindness and not so hot at doing the justice part,” she says of the church
“Let’s change the damn system that put people in poverty in the first place.”
She’s discouraged by working-class voters turning right
“They’re getting sold a bill of goods….People are voting against their own best interest,” she says
She believes modest financial gains have made some voters more protective than progressive
the party has drawn heavily from Christian socialism and the social gospel — a movement that saw spiritual renewal and social justice as two sides of the same coin
was formed in 1932 during the Great Depression by farmers
labour activists and clergy who believed capitalism had failed to serve the common good
socialism wasn’t a rejection of Christianity — it was its fulfillment
The party’s strength was especially pronounced in Western Canada
Douglas became premier of Saskatchewan in 1944 — a landmark moment for the left
“It was a time when there was a real left-wing movement among farmers and workers,” says Malloy
(People have called the United Church “the NDP at prayer,” but the denomination has never officially backed a political party.)
Bill Blaikie — elected to Parliament in 1979 — still held seats
Blaikie would have said the party was almost turning its back on religious groups.”
even as its religious identity receded — and the evangelical right claimed much of the moral ground — the NDP remained rooted in values
“The party is based on a moral mission,” says Malloy
“whether it’s addressing inequality or confronting injustice.”
grounded his leadership in his Sikh beliefs in love and unity
consistently framing the NDP’s goals in moral terms
the party secured real policy wins — including a national dental care program — through its confidence-and-supply deal with the Liberals
Whether the party can regain its footing remains to be seen
the NDP must confront defining questions: “What’s the point of a social democratic party in the 21st century
Can it merge blue-collar workers and progressive urban voters?”
As Singh reminded supporters in his farewell speech
the Sikh principle of chardi kala — a spirit of relentless optimism and courage — may be exactly what the party needs now
Not sure Bill Blaikie would say the NDP was turning its back on religious groups
What he did say was that the reason we hear so little about the religious left is because so many of its ideas and values had actually entered the Canadian mainstream
I'm looking past the "collapse of the NDP" headlines
well aware that many NDP voters - and even members - felt they had to vote Liberal in this election because of an existential threat to Canada
Thanks to Broadview for highlighting the NDP-United Church connection
(And indeed a connection with Anglican and some Catholic clergy.) Growing up in Saskatchewan
In my current conservative swath of Ontario
United Church members seem unaware of that whole history and current reality
Paulette Steeves's research challenges common beliefs about her ancestors' presence in North America
"Climate change is deeply tied to economic activity," writes Tahmeed Shafiq
but on how to care for others ethically in relationship," writes Rev
Lack of internet access and isolation have prompted these congregations to think outside the box
The pandemic has triggered a wave of good deeds as Canadians pitch in to help or inspire others
Ohio — A battle over the 2025 budget could create a government shutdown in a Cuyahoga County suburb
Broadview Heights may be without critical services
The Broadview Heights City Council voted to pass the city's 2025 last week
Four council members voted to pass the budget
If at least one additional council member voted in favor of the budget
because the budget was only passed with a 4-3 vote
it won't take effect for 30 days or until Jan
Ward 2 Councilman Brian Wolf said residents should be "slightly concerned" about a shutdown
Wolf said the city would be unable to pay for critical services
"The city would not have the funds allocated to function," he said
So why did three city council members vote against the city's 2025 budget
News 5 reached out to each Broadview Heights city council member who voted against the budget
News 5 was unable to reach Councilman Joe Price on Monday
Councilman Glenn Goodwin said there were several items in the budget he was unhappy with
Councilman Brian Dunlap told us he hoped his concern about the city's pay structure for top officials and safety workers would be addressed in the budget
"Nobody wants to shut down city services," he said
"Nobody wants to shut it down for two minutes."
Dunlap said he is confident city council will resolve the budget issue before the year ends
"Everybody's worried about nothing," he said
City officials have introduced a temporary budget as a stopgap that only requires a four to three vote to take effect
which would mean city services would not be halted
Council will vote on that plan during a meeting at 7:30 p.m
temples and abbeys reveals the spiritual power of food
As soon as Father Youhanna Khawand entered the dining room at the St
Anthony of Qozhaya monastery in Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley
he was surrounded by younger monks reverentially setting his place at the table
The elderly monk had spent 20 years as a hermit in the nearby mountains and had only rejoined the Maronite community a few months earlier
“Because I missed laughter,” Khawand told writer Jody Eddy
“I missed sharing a meal with my friends.”
A trained chef and prolific cookbook author
Eddy is also a wanderer by nature who spent three years visiting religious communities around the globe
In Elysian Kitchens: Recipes Inspired by the Traditions and Tastes of the World’s Sacred Spaces
nuns and pirs (Sufi spiritual leaders) as she seeks out “the universal truth of food.” These holy communities welcomed her and photographer Kristin Teig into their kitchens and gardens
showcasing their culinary traditions and innovations
Eddy also takes inspiration from grief: her mother died unexpectedly just as the idea for the book was taking shape
and her grandmother when Eddy was completing the recipes
there’s a sense of grace and wonder that accompanies her narratives
Elysian Kitchens brings us into the sometimes isolated
sometimes boisterous world of each center through images
At the Thikse monastery in the Indian Himalayas
Eddy joined young Tibetan Buddhist devotees
observing the apricot and barley harvests through their eyes and sharing yak butter tea with tsampa (roast-ed barley flour)
the Eihei-ji Temple in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture offered formal Zen dining rituals and simple meals of freshly made tofu
The foraging Benedictine nuns of Kylemore Abbey
bakers of scones lauded as the best in Ireland
introduced Eddy to the sustainability of seaweed
She marveled at the medicinal gardens of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Wandrille in Normandy
home to centuries-old traditions of beekeeping and beer brewing
riotous Friday night suppers with parsnip and cream cheese pierogies
nurturing fellowship and breathing life into ancient practices
How the residents of the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp came together to write a cookbook
The Cistercian Catholic monks in Catalonia cultivate their gardens at the Poblet Monastery
a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 12th century
Described in the book as “one of the most cutting- edge monastic gardening programs in the world,” Poblet grows lemon
almond and hazel- nut trees alongside artichokes
a former investment banker turned monk who over- sees the Poblet gardens
“When I need time for contemplation and meditation,” he told her
“I take my little rake outside with me and harvest olives.”
Community is a common thread throughout the book
an 18th-century Sikh temple where devout volunteers prepare and share chapati and dal makhani
While the kosher meals come in crockery and the gurudwara serves its vegetarian fare on stainless steel plates
the message is the same: let all who are hungry eat with us
Eddy created a WhatsApp group for the religious leaders to connect with each other
sharing their practices for gardening and eating sustainably
“The monks and priests cooking in temples and monasteries were often the first environmental stewards,” Eddy says in an interview
“They used all parts of the plant….A lot had to do with necessity
but a lot was related to spiritual practices: not wasting and being mindful of consumption.”
The friendships Eddy formed with these spiritual practitioners helped her navigate the world after her losses
“Being able to visit all of these places and talk to so many wise people allowed me to forgive myself and move forward,” she says
of reaching out to community…gave me a sense of continuity and optimism that I’d felt in danger of losing.”
Ivy Lerner-Frank is a writer and former Canadian diplomat
The author didn't submit to a fellow 10-year-old who had turned his personal forest retreat into a place of panic
Queer students and staff are still at greater risk of alienation and discrimination in Catholic classrooms
The denomination underwent major structural changes two years ago
Broadview checked in on the revamped church
Education and accessible supplies can move us toward menstrual equity
Inside the effort to curb toxic masculinity before it takes root
The Oscar-winning documentary details life under occupation and urges viewers to break the silence
Between 2019 and 2023, Palestinian activist Basel Adra filmed Israel’s military occupation destroying his community of Masafer Yatta, a collection of 19 Palestinian hamlets in the southern West Bank.
In his co-directed film, No Other Land
we see bulldozers arrive and reduce houses and schools to rubble
We see Israeli soldiers destroying computers and confiscating film equipment
Pens holding sheep and chickens suffer the same fate
an area of the Israeli-occupied West Bank that is under full military control
Israel declared that part of Masafer Yatta would be used as a firing zone for military exercises
and a 2022 court ruling against the Palestinian residents paves the way for more than 1,000 people to be expelled from the area
Israeli settlers also intrude on the community
claiming property and livestock as their own
No Other Land chronicles the experiences of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta and holds up a mirror to the actions of the Israeli government
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2024 before being distributed and shown in 24 countries
including at the Toronto and Vancouver International Film Festivals
It won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
along with other international film awards
no major American distributors have taken it on
‘This is where I need to be’: A Canadian doctor reports from a Gaza hospital
United Church to consider naming Israel’s actions ‘apartheid’
While the Academy Award has increased the film’s profile
Last month, No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal reported that Israeli settlers arrived at his home in the West Bank village of Susya and physically attacked him
and took him to an undisclosed location where soldiers beat him
Israeli forces say they detained Ballal for throwing rocks
International observers reported that Ballal received no medical attention for his wounds while in custody
Opponents of the film say it is antisemitic and undermines Israel’s right to exist
No Other Land is critical of the Israeli government’s practice of annexing more and more of the West Bank
making the film a lightning rod for disagreements about who is being oppressed and who is the oppressor
But some commentators see No Other Land as a chance to grapple with some tough questions
Russel Neiss, an American Jewish educator and technologist, wrote for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency of his longing to get beyond the boycotts and intentional silencing of the film to discuss the issues it raises: “…the hopelessness it left me with
the embarrassment of seeing home demolitions perpetuated in my name
and the struggle of balancing the Jewish values of … (responsibility for each other)
He challenges the Jewish community to also move beyond silence to grapple with the questions that matter: “If we want to heal
Because that’s the only way we’ll ever get anywhere.”
American rabbi Alexander Davis, writing in TC Jewfolk, offered his perspective: “the best
and truly only way to respond to the movie is for Israel to address its treatment of Palestinians.” He says that “the abuses documented in the film have no place in the Jewish State
As more and more people discover this film
I hope the global community will gain a better understanding what was happening in the Middle East before Oct
2023 — and lead us all to demand a world where both Palestinians and Israelis “shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
and none shall make them afraid,” as the prophet Micah says
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated on April 25 to add more background information about Masafer Yatta
Keith Hagerman is a United Church minister interested in the intersection of film and spirituality
Montreal City Mission's Maa'n/Ensemble works to build bridges between faith communities and newcomers
Fires at Angus Bonner Memorial United and Samson United follow a string of other burnings and acts of vandalism
Roughly 200 people showed up at a vigil in Hamilton
to support the work of Bekett Noble with signs like "Bad Theology Kills"
The process values people and relationships over punishment
Activists explain why they're against a free-trade agreement between our two countries
He calls it a “weakness,” but his argument rests on false assumptions
Elon Musk thinks empathy is killing civilization. In a recent appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the world’s top right-leaning podcast
Musk made a surprising proclamation: empathy
is the “fundamental weakness of Western civilization,” pushing us toward “civilizational suicide.”
As a Canadian social psychologist who researches empathy scientifically
Musk’s claim relies on two key assumptions: that empathy is higher in ‘western civilization’ than other societies and that high empathy harms civilization
Western civilization is neither uniquely empathetic nor especially high in empathy. A study by psychologist William Chopik and colleagues comparing empathy across 63 countries bears this out
but the top five countries in total empathy were Ecuador
Southeast Asia and East Asia all scored higher on average in total empathy than Western nations
Want to join the Broadview community and make sure you don’t miss a story? Sign up for one of our newsletters.
broadening empathy is the driving force that has moved us from tribal bonds to religious ties
to nation states and could eventually move us to global co-operation
At the same time, empathy is not perfect. As the late neuroscientist Emile Bruneau showed
we’re more likely to empathize with in-group members compared to those considered “others,” a tendency that biases moral decision making
drives polarization and can even motivate retaliation
empathy can be “weaponized” and “used as a tool” to manipulate others
Politicians across the spectrum have long exploited this tactic
President Donald Trump highlights the stories of victims of migrant crime (who rightfully deserve our empathy) to argue there is a migrant crime wave despite the fact that research suggests immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens
this too is an example of weaponized empathy
It is thus critical to understand when selective empathy is being used to manipulate us and take time to consider all individuals potentially affected by our actions
empathy is essential to civilization’s advancement
in particular empathizing across religious
When the Bible says “love thy neighbour” it does not add “but only if they share your political views.”
Empathizing across party lines can help reduce polarization. Behavioural scientist Luiza Santos and colleagues have shown that people who believe empathizing across partisan divides is a strength rather than a weakness experience decreased hostility toward their political opponents and become more effective at persuading others in political discussions
The way forward isn’t to abandon empathy but to develop a more comprehensive
thoughtful version that considers the full human impact of our decisions
It is the total absence of empathy — not its presence — that truly threatens civilization
cultivating thoughtful empathy alongside critical thinking may be our best path toward addressing the complex challenges of our interconnected world
Greg Depow is a Canadian psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at the Rady School of Management
revealing the separation between folk who see two solitudes
Success is for me or success for us (community)
ln his interview with Joe Rogan on empathy
Elon Musk also mentioned "suicidal empathy" I have trouble picturing this except as firemen and other first responders who risk their lives for the benefit of those they serve...but I don't think that is what he meant
there are a number of ways to get involved
don’t shop” has become a mantra for many animal lovers
But some smaller rescues fly under the regulatory radar
The educators behind Elders for Climate Sanity want their contemporaries to know that no one is too old to make a difference
The Winnipeg librarian prioritizes access to information over intellectual freedom
the publication has persisted against all odds for nearly two centuries
The publication that you hold in your hands has persisted against all odds for almost 200 years
It has shaped church and country and consensus
which at first seems surprising for a little old religious magazine
It was born on a wing and a prayer (with a used printing press brought by stagecoach to York from New York City) and
some 30 Methodist ministers arrived from across Upper Canada to Bowman’s Chapel
a modest wooden structure in Ancaster Township (present-day Hamilton) for the first Canadian Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
But the Canadian branch of the church had recently become independent
and its leaders had big plans to unite and educate their disparate flock of Upper Canadian Methodists
founding ministers issued $2,000 in stock with shares costing $20 each
The Christian Guardian would publish weekly at York (later Toronto)
and ministers who procured 15 subscribers were promised a free copy
But what of the weekly publication they envisioned
The story of Canada’s oldest continuously published periodical
and the English-speaking world’s second-longest continuously published magazine is
Although it has gone through several transitions in its 195-year existence
this publication has served as a barometer of Canada’s evolving morality
and at other times self-flagellating and insecure
probed ethical questions and been a progressive voice at the heart of many difficult conversations
most recently in defiance of a vocal Christian right
With each incarnation, the publication has been led by pioneering editors who have made bold decisions, tested the line between church control and independence, and been editorially and economically inventive in the hunt for resources and readers. Among them: Egerton Ryerson (1829-32
Forrest (1955-77) and Jocelyn Bell (2018-present)
Reflecting on its history — from The Christian Guardian to The New Outlook
to The United Church Observer and now Broadview
a multiplatform media organization that includes a website
podcasting and online events — Bell says that words like “legacy and institution” start to get at what this storied publication means to her
“The idea of standing on the shoulders of those who came before me is a helpful image,” she says
but the thousands of voices of people who contributed to that ongoing conversation
as well as the people who read and engaged with it and allowed it to maybe shape how they saw Canada and the world.”
So much of Canada today would be unfathomable to The Christian Guardian’s first readers in 1829
but Bell says the publication serves as “one long thread that connects us to those people
one long conversation that both reflects and challenges the thinking of the day on what it means to be Christian and living on this land.”
Early pages of Broadview’s predecessor reveal a mixed legacy on Indigenous-settler relations
Over parts of three centuries, it has published bold stories and expansive commentaries that have unsettled congregations and even influenced church decisions: the future of Methodism, church land ownership, separation of church and state, public education, Indigenous rights, feminism, Darwinism and evolution, pacifism, the Palestine-Israel conflict
It’s difficult to overestimate the influence the magazine has had over the years within — and beyond — the church
it’s been pretty significant work,” says Mardi Tindal
former moderator of the United Church and current member of Broadview’s board of directors
I learned that you have to speak over the church walls
This ‘broad view’ helps the church leave those walls and be heard more broadly in Canadian society.”
religious publications are fighting extinction
an effort they share with many secular media
the precipitous decline in print subscriptions — and related revenue — over the past two decades sees it celebrating its 195th anniversary with a new strategy to ensure the only voice for progressive Christianity in Canada reaches its 200th and beyond
It’s also worth asking a bigger question: in an age of resolute secularism
can this little old religious publication continue to make a difference
In 1829, pre-Confederation Canada was a wilderness society built on lands of the Wendat, Petun and Algonquin, populated by land-hungry farmers and United Empire Loyalists who had moved north around the time of the War of 1812 with America. Attendees to the Canadian Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, determined to reach these settlers through The Christian Guardian
elected as editor an intellectually nimble and verbose saddlebag preacher named Egerton Ryerson
Ryerson had defied his Anglican father to become a Methodist minister
riding on horseback over extremely shoddy roads
While being a tenacious saddlebag preacher doesn’t seem like a qualification for founding editor
“had become the public face of Methodist apologists in the colony,” according to York University professor Scott McLaren
an expert on the founding of The Christian Guardian
Condemned in the present day for his hand in creating the framework for the residential school system as superintendent of education for Canada West
Ryerson rose to prominence by publishing a series of letters in William Lyon Mackenzie’s Colonial Advocate
in which he dared to challenge two key ideas of the day: clerical monopoly over public education and the union of church and state
Ryerson’s first volley was an anonymous 12,000 words refuting attacks on Methodism made in a sermon by Rev
Strachan was a powerful clergyman and officeholder on the legislative council for Upper Canada (1820-1841)
He was also a pillar of the Family Compact
high-paying jobs and their connections to Britain
During a sermon in 1825 on the death of Jacob Mountain
Strachan had complained about the spread of Methodism across Upper Canada and its “uneducated itinerant preachers,” whom he witheringly described as being “induced without any preparation
writes Kevin Flatt in an article in Faith Today
Strachan hinted that “the American origins of most of these preachers linked them with the rebellious attitudes of the new republic.” According to Flatt
an associate professor of history at Redeemer University College in Ancaster
“These were serious charges in a province where many settlers were Loyalists to the British crown who had fled the American Revolution and just fought off the Americans in the War of 1812.”
Strachan was deeply concerned about the influence of south-of-the-border Yankeeism that had driven out the British during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
The same insurrection could not be allowed to happen in the colony to the north
so the Church of England had to be bolstered as much as possible
“If [Upper Canada] didn’t end up with an established church
it would mean that we would be all more susceptible to the wily influences of the Americans,” McLaren says
“The idea that there should be no connection between church and state was very controversial
because the British authorities believed that the Revolutionary War had happened because there were not sufficiently strong connections between church and state in the 13 colonies.”
the men who drafted the constitution of Upper Canada in 1791 had set aside one-seventh of all property in the colony to support the Protestant clergy (specifically the Anglican clergy)
They also gave Anglican ministers alone the right to solemnize marriages and provided funding only for Anglican missionaries and schools
This meant that any Protestants who wanted to be married
Drawing on a long tradition of Christian thought linking church and state
Strachan believed that the Church of England was “the surest means for the promotion of sound Christian principles
an orderly society and loyalty to the Crown,” Flatt writes
and would guide the province’s settlers away from the influence of Roman Catholicism and “a welter of disorderly Protestant sects.”
Ryerson denounced Strachan and the Family Compact and argued for a degree of separation between church and state; specifically
he didn’t believe the Anglicans should be the colony’s official church
despite the denomination’s primacy in Mother England
the government of Upper Canada should treat all Protestant denominations equally
Ryerson felt Methodists should be allowed to solemnize marriages and collectively own property to build churches
known as “clergy reserves,” should be sold and the proceeds put into a free
Ryerson also rejected Strachan’s claim that Methodists were disloyal to the British
evoking his own family’s Loyalist origins and service in the War of 1812
it became obvious the Methodists in Upper Canada needed to defend their interests
as well as to separate themselves from American Methodists
“Egerton Ryerson felt that in order to really advocate for the kind of political and educational change he wanted to see
they needed their own publication,” McLaren says
The ever-ambitious Ryerson put his name forward as editor and got the job
He set off for New York City to acquire a $700 printing press and paper
“I’m astonished that The Christian Guardian got started at all,” Jim Taylor
a former managing editor of The United Church Observer
mused in a 1979 article celebrating the publication’s 150th anniversary
over what were later described as ‘the worst conceivable roads,’ at a rate of a mile an hour.” Back home
Ryerson’s budget was too small to hire staff
so he folded and addressed the papers himself to send to subscribers — 450 a week at first
the largest circulation of any periodical in the country at that time
The Christian Guardian was supposed to be modelled on the New York-based Methodist publication
but it “was actually quite different from almost the very beginning because it appealed not just to Methodists
“There was definitely lots of religious content in The Christian Guardian
but there were also really strident articles arguing for the secularization of the clergy reserves.”
Ryerson wrote in 1830 that The Christian Guardian’s role was “to support and vindicate religious and civil rights,” but also to promote “practical Christianity — to teach men how to live and how to die.” He had a “democratic impulse,” McLaren says
and believed in “waging a newspaper war to change people’s minds because he thought their opinions mattered.” Ryerson’s editorial skill and a growing constituency of Methodists made The Guardian one of the most politically influential papers in the colony
sneered that The Christian Guardian “went into every hole and corner of the Upper Province.”
Ryerson’s opinions didn’t only irritate Anglicans
Politically conservative British Wesleyans also said that The Christian Guardian was “way too political,” in McLaren’s summation
and that Ryerson should get off his “political soapbox
and focus on saving souls and not worry about how the province is organized politically.”
Notorious for being unpredictable in his opinions
Ryerson ended up supporting a Methodist merger with the British Wesleyans who were expanding their work into Upper Canada
He resigned as editor in 1832 to go to England to complete the negotiations
He returned to Upper Canada in September 1833 and resumed editorship
seemingly worn down from all the controversies he’d ignited or become embroiled in
An account of his life published after his death
says that Ryerson “longed for more congenial work” and passionately wanted to focus on a universal
he recalled how far his church had come since he launched The Christian Guardian: “Methodists were an obscure
an ill-treated people; nor had their church the security of law for a single chapel
or acre of land.…Now the political condition and relations of the Methodist connexion are pleasingly changed
Ten years go there were 41 ministers and 6,875 church members; now there are 93 ministers and 15,106 church members
“the newspaper earned its reputation as an unyielding thorn in the side of Upper Canada’s conservative governing elite as it opened a new space where policies could be debated
and political figures scrutinized,” McLaren writes in “Before The Christian Guardian: American Methodist Periodicals in the Upper Canadian Backwoods
1818-1829,” published in the Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada
While McLaren stops short of concluding The Christian Guardian prevented the Church of England from becoming Upper Canada’s official religion
he does believe that “so central did The Guardian become in the reformist battle for religious neutrality on the part of the state
that its impact on the colony’s political and cultural life can be overstated only with difficulty.”
McLaren also sees a thread running from The Christian Guardian to today’s Broadview: “It was advocating…not just for religious change
with an eye towards bigger issues around things like equity and fairness and political representation
As well as also bringing marginalized voices
into a conversation that was happening in Upper Canada.” Early Canadian Methodists “felt you couldn’t deal with just religious issues unless you also dealt with political issues
You could say that’s true of most people in the United Church today,” McLaren says
Ryerson ran one more time to be editor and was re-elected
serving from 1838 to 1840 before finally retiring again
he set the standard for subsequent editors of the publication: crusading
a reader of this publication is exposed to stories of consequence to the evolution of Canada intermixed with reports of church decisions
religious instruction and theological perspectives
A reader in 1837 would find in-depth coverage of that year’s Upper Canada Rebellion
Heath cites Guardian articles and editorials that questioned militarism and the risk of nationalism
with headlines like “How Can War Be Outlawed?” (March 5); “Stirring Debate on No More War” (April 16); “Nationalism as a Menace” (May 7); and “The Struggle for Peace: A History with Its Pathos and Tragedy” (May 28)
Creighton edited The Christian Guardian until 1925
when The United Church of Canada was formed through the union of Methodists
Their respective publications merged to form The New Outlook
the church’s General Council amalgamated The New Outlook with The United Church Records and Missionary Review
This was the first and only time that the publication’s name would be directly tied to the church it served
affirming it a powerful two-way mirror for a growing denomination: it reflected the views of church members as much as it influenced them
The Observer combined both the weekly newspaper and monthly magazine formats into a bimonthly magazine
driven by the amalgamation of publications as well as the popular Every Family Plan that saw congregations pay for the subscriptions and give them to “every family” (or every family who agreed) in their congregation for free
It was during this time of exponential circulation growth that Rev
Forrest took the helm and audaciously and passionately steered The Observer into controversy
A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Victoria College
one-time sports reporter for the Globe and Mail
minister at three churches and chaplain in the Royal Canadian Air Force
He’d become known as an in-the-trenches editor
who’d once covered 22 African countries in 10 weeks
was not afraid to challenge prevailing opinion,” according to Ruth Bradley-St
an Ottawa-based researcher and former managing editor of the United Church Publishing House
She did her PhD on the “downfall” of the Ryerson Press
whose years as Observer editor overlapped with the final decade of the press
Forrest enjoyed courting controversy as a notorious Christian commentator
noting that his friends and fellow opinion leaders Pierre Berton
Charles Templeton and Gordon Sinclair were all atheists
“While atheism certainly does not disqualify a man from making profound and helpful comments on religion,” he wrote
“it would be helpful if the media produced more men of equal competence in communication but greater profundity of understanding.”
In an interview in 1963 with the Toronto Daily Star
he joked that he had been called “everything but a Christian” and said those who wanted the church to keep quiet failed to understand that it was the the church paper’s responsibility to cover “anything that comes between a man and his God.”
Forrest had the gift of considering both sides of an argument and a willingness to change his mind
he criticized Canadian immigration policies because they “favoured Roman Catholics,” but when he was an observer that decade at Vatican II
he reported that Pope John XXIII (now Saint John XXIII) was “the best pope Protestants ever had.” Bradley-St
Cyr says Forrest was also opposed to the secularism sweeping Canada in the late 1960s
calling it “the faith of Expo ’67” or “the belief that man can make it on his own
achieve and bring about a wholeness within his life without spiritual help.”
says Forrest had a great appreciation for global issues but also felt deep ties to the magazine’s readers
“He saw the Canadian church as his pastorate.” And like any pastor in a local church
he felt “the national church has no business telling a local pastor what he should be preaching
And I think he applied that through The Observer.” Forrest also sent Observer representatives across Canada to meet his congregation of readers
it was the first time someone from the United Church national office had ever visited a local presbytery
Under Forrest — and thanks to a growing United Church membership and the Every Family Plan — circulation doubled to 334,000
making The Observer the biggest denominational publication in the Commonwealth
more than 2,800 United churches were enrolled in the Every Family Plan to purchase subscriptions for their parishioners
Just as Ryerson shaped readers’ views on clergy reserves and the separation of church and state in the 1830s
and Creighton spread pacifism in the 1920s
Forrest’s criticism of the state of Israel for its actions against Palestinian refugees put him at odds with much of the Canadian establishment
his ongoing reporting swayed many in the United Church to the Palestinian cause
organized labour and even the Toronto Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
He explained to the Toronto Daily Star that “people confuse our editorials with the official position of the United Church
The editorials are my responsibility and mine alone.”
the church tended to support the freedom of its own press and its editor
Forrest’s courting of controversy brought death threats and harassment
His hard-headed determination in running a magazine that tweaked people’s consciences elevated his Observer to must-read status but also took a profound personal toll
Forrest’s controversial stands wore him down
describing him as a “second father.” “Al is linked with two main issues — support of Palestinians and that he was opposed to abortion,” says Taylor
when the United Church declared that abortion was between a woman and her doctor
Forrest opposed the church policy and lobbied to get it changed
Forrest ran for moderator of the United Church and lost
“He felt it was not just a rejection of his value
but a rejection of The Observer as a whole
as a ministry of The United Church of Canada,” Taylor is quoted as saying in an appendix to Bradley-St
and his doctor told him to read when he couldn’t sleep
he woke around 4 o’clock and went to the living room to read
He was found in his favourite chair with a book still in his hands
Apologizing to Indigenous survivors of residential schools
Advocating for climate justice and ecological healing
editors have reported on the church’s decisions and drawn on their own passions and approaches to lead the magazine
readers by asking hard questions about who and what Canada should be
was the first layperson appointed editor/publisher
He wasn’t even a member of the United Church
He had been a reporter at the Toronto Telegram for many years and then editor of the Anglican publication Canadian Churchman
He made his mark visiting Biafra in 1969 amid its civil war with Nigeria and wrote movingly about his experiences for the Churchman and The Observer
The Observer evolved from an arm of General Council to an independently incorporated publication that could set its own editorial direction
This shift also made the magazine eligible for a postal subsidy when mailed to subscribers
reporting on struggles for justice in Northern Canada
David Wilson (a future editor/publisher) was working at a movie tabloid in 1987 when he was hired by McCullum
who he describes as “a very flamboyant editor” who liked big-picture stories and taking risks
“He wanted the magazine to matter and to reach beyond the church constituency,” says Wilson
compares McCullum’s approach to turning The Observer into Newsweek
but focusing on social justice issues,” he recalls
“He had very little sense of congregation life and wasn’t interested in most church news
Wilson had a dream job that any journalist would envy
McCullum sent him across the United States for five weeks to interview the Christian right in the run-up to the 1988 presidential election that ushered George H.W
Wilson received a National Magazine Award nomination for this first major piece
he also travelled to Alberta to cover a regional conference where the issue of ordaining self-declared gay men and lesbians as ministers was top of the agenda
The General Council’s decision later that year to approve the policy caused The Observer to lose tens of thousands of subscribers
“because the magazine was the messenger to people who were angry with the church.” (The United Church lost almost 80,000 members between 1987 and 1991.)
Mardi Tindal was the co-host of a United Church television program
when the church was grappling with issues of sexuality and later
deciding whether to apologize for its role in residential schools
Tindal learned that the 1998 decision to apologize for The United Church of Canada’s role in residential schools was made against the advice of the church’s insurers and the insurers’ lawyers
She says she appreciated that The Observer reported on church decisions with a critical eye
Magazine circulation had gone from more than 300,000 in 1975 to about 60,000
alongside vast declines in church attendance
handled by volunteer representatives in each congregation
had begun to replace the Every Family Plan in the mid-1980s
Wilson says his vision was “to create a church magazine that exceeds expectations of what a church magazine might be.” He switched to glossy stock from newsprint
emphasized the design of the magazine and paid freelancers what they earned from mainstream magazines like Toronto Life
He also expanded the scope of the magazine to more deeply examine ethical living and social justice issues that didn’t have an overt religious component
“The magazine was a voice for enlightened Christianity in a Canadian context
It made a case for those values to be part of the Canadian conversation,” says Wilson
who notes The Observer led with its stories on women’s rights
He likes to think the coverage had an effect on national policy
Wilson says he knew he was “presiding over an embattled medium in a shrinking universe.” Between 2011 and 2021
United Church membership dropped from about 480,000 to roughly 350,000 people
and church attendance declined from more than 165,000 to fewer than 120,000 people
This meant the audience for The Observer was shrinking too
a longtime writer and editor at the magazine
the magazine’s circulation had dropped to about 31,000
She sought to understand what The United Church Observer should and could be in a world where churches were losing their faithful and magazines across North America
she wanted to foster important conversations about how we can live ethically and in balance within our modern world
With the assistance of her own team and publishing consultant Sharon McAuley
who had been publisher of Toronto Life and Saturday Night magazines
she re-envisioned and rebranded the publication
Broadview was launched: a multiplatform media organization that eventually grew to include a reinvigorated website and archive
podcasting and online dialogues with readers
Justice and Ethical Living.” Bell says the strategy was needed
we would have missed the opportunity to share journalism through a progressive Christian perspective with people beyond the United Church pews
The Observer was producing some really great journalism
but very few people outside the denomination ever read it,” says Bell
She adds that Broadview wants to reach people both within the church and beyond it
Among them are people who consider themselves progressive Christians as well as those who don’t identify that way but share the values of progressive Christianity
“I think a lot of creative energy has come from thinking about what values those groups have in common and how we can best serve their needs,” she says
a recent Broadview board member and author of the Canadian Magazines blog
thinks building a broader audience is vital
while also continuing to report on the church
He says it’s been a major preoccupation of the board
“Holding on to an audience in the modern circumstance is no easy matter when you’re trying to get somebody to part with a little bit of money
And goddammit…it’s not like you’re asking for the Earth
the publication must “have the right story to tell them,” he says
“I have always felt that the readers of magazines are subscribed to the principles and the end
not so much to the individual articles.” That said
the progressive content that the magazine is introducing to an older existing audience still has to resonate with them
reach and secure new readers while holding on to current ones
adding that Broadview’s website and newsletters are an important strategy to bolster the audience
but then COVID-19 hit and “it was not kind to us,” says Bell
Generous donors have stepped up to fill in some of the budget shortfall
And Broadview is evolving to think of itself as a charity whose mission is to provide progressive Christian journalism aimed at changing the world
longtime freelancer for the magazine and certified fundraising executive to oversee efforts to raise money
she promoted Elliott to executive director and is expecting fundraising to bring in almost half the organization’s revenue
advertising and investment income making up the rest
While the editors who came before Bell had the luxury of stomping through the trenches to bring important stories to church members
today she turns her focus to running a multi-platform media organization with razor-sharp budgeting
We’re uploading to Apple News and YouTube and at least four other social media platforms,” she says
explaining the many efforts underway to grow the audience
the issues Bell cares about and champions populate Broadview
sparking important discussions on 2SLGBTQ+ rights
climate justice and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
if “my imagined future historians find this issue of Broadview
they’ll gain insights into how we viewed the climate crisis and multiculturalism and how we dabbled with artificial intelligence to produce a tongue-in-cheek interview with AI Jesus
They’ll also learn about how Indigenous United Church members are carving their own path to self-determination
just as the Algonquian teachers engraved their presence and world view into the marble
I’d like the 3023 crew to read our piece on Mary
the mother of Jesus.…Our story in this issue reinterprets Mary as not just a portal but a prophet in her own right.”
She closed that piece with an ode to stories that have the “power to speak to us for millennia,” writing: “I believe that those that last the longest are the ones that stir our emotions
make us feel connected and inspire us to build a kinder
Broadview is “now standing with the best magazines as much as possible,” Bell says
and has won numerous National Magazine Awards (NMAs)
Canada’s highest accolade for magazine journalism
Bell also won the NMA’s Editor’s Grand Prix
for “the complete re-visioning of Broadview magazine,” according to the NMA jury
The NMA also awarded Broadview the Best Magazine: Special Interest in 2021 and 2022
As Broadview experiences pressure to find new readers
it also finds its relations with the national office of The United Church of Canada under strain
itself having gone through a 2019 restructuring and fallout from the pandemic
cut its grant to Broadview in half and drastically reduced advertising in the magazine and online
which represents two percent of Broadview’s budgeted revenue this year
Broadview journalists have also been barred from General Council Executive meetings that they had attended in the past
And changing the publication after 80 years remains controversial to some observers and longtime readers
a professor emerita of the history of Christianity at the University of Toronto’s Emmanuel College
says she wondered if the changes made Broadview less valuable to the church
with the United Church as a separate ‘focus,’ combined with their own budget pressures will give them cause to reconsider its value,” says Airhart
author of A Church with the Soul of a Nation: Making and Remaking the United Church of Canada
“I assume the editorial decision was made in an attempt to expand the readership beyond the denomination
But does it give the impression that the United Church is less important to its future?”
Many people interviewed for this piece are watching closely to see what Bell and Broadview do next
worried about the future of Canada’s oldest continuously published magazine
Tindal believes the magazine retains its critical role in informing the conscience of our often-fragmented country as fewer Canadians identify with an institutional faith
“The task of building community has become infinitely more complex
“In a world where media often focus on what divides us
Broadview provides common ground where we can develop a deeper understanding of differences and what unites us as human beings.”
As the 195th anniversary approaches this fall
Bell and her team are focusing on inspiring readers through solutions-based journalism
harnessing technology to develop readership
and putting strategies in place for financial stability and growth
Bell says that “hope and a lot of hard work” will help Broadview chart a path forward
clarifying its vision and purpose for 2025 and beyond
The Christian Guardian began on a wing and a prayer and a used printing press — and still managed to make its mark
Can Canada’s oldest continuously published periodical continue to make a difference
Maybe it’s best to conclude that this very old and very storied publication
lives on hope — hope that what began with such grit and faith in 1829 continues to evolve and thrive and guide critical conversations about Canadians
“One thing I’ve learned in my time as editor/publisher is that our readers and supporters are willing to take risks with us; they’re willing to evolve,” says Bell
and there are critical points at which you have to let it go and keep moving
This publication has been reinventing itself for 195 years
We intend for that adventure to continue.”
Shelley Page is a long-form feature writer
editor and content strategist in Ottawa who has won multiple awards
This story first appeared in Broadview’s October/November 2024 issue with the title “195 Years.”
My work in palliative care taught me that death is not the worst thing that can happen
A new documentary captures the disappearing beauty of the Rockies' iconic glacial lakes
How nostalgia stifles diversity on kids' bookshelves
'The Little Mosque on the Prairie' actor is a longtime United Church member and LGBTQ2S+ activist
Study finds Canadian women feel they are overlooked for opportunities and lack resources to progress
Director Edward Berger’s latest drama is a gripping political thriller set inside the insular world of the Vatican
I’d say this is a pretty fair vision of hell,” says Monsignor O’Malley (Brían F
O’Byrne) of the noisy renovations taking place in the Vatican Palace
“Don’t be blasphemous,” retorts Thomas Lawrence (a superb Ralph Fiennes)
“Hell arrives tomorrow — when we bring in the cardinals.”
In the opening moments of Conclave
German-born director Edward Berger’s latest drama
Lawrence learns that the pope has just died
it now falls to him to gather the more than 100 cardinal electors
sequester them in the hallowed Sistine Chapel and choose a new pontiff
Two Americans and a Nigerian emerge as early favourites: Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci)
a progressive; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow)
a centrist; and Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati)
a man whose outward affability is at odds with his anti-gay views
an Italian cardinal who opposes any attempts to modernize the church
The Virgin Mary was a prophet too, some experts say
As a residential school survivor, the Pope’s apology made me angry
One of the film’s chief pleasures is watching modern-day objects comically coexist with an ancient
lavish world of robes and rituals: cardinals smoke e-cigarettes
use high-end coffee makers and scroll on their smartphones
Berger and Straughan also make light of how little the clergymen understand about the outside world
When the conservative Tedesco reacts to a terrorist attack in Rome by preaching against tolerance
the mysterious Vincent Benítez (Carlos Diehz)
a Mexican cardinal leading a dangerous mission in Afghanistan
Even more biting are the moments that illustrate how women have been relegated to the background to cook
not only portrayed both a nun and Joan of Arc but was also vilified by the Catholic Church in the 1950s for her affair with Italian filmmaker Roberto Rossellini
Each time Agnes gets to speak — whether for herself or her sisters — it feels momentous
Much of the conversation around Conclave will likely centre on its late-stage revelation
“There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others: certainty,” says Lawrence in a sermon
Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance.” By the film’s coda
Lawrence must determine whether he truly believes his own words
Robert Liwanag is a Toronto writer and a senior editor at Ensemble
The pontiff hasn't changed church teaching on marriage in indicating support for same-sex civil unions
he is reminding Catholics they should be concerned about justice for all
The former NDP MPP's memoir tells her story from childhood trauma to ministry
More than 2,000 people of various faiths came out to see the church awash in colour and full of music
The generous gift to Église Sainte-Marie comes with some strings attached
Travels in the 1980s and '90s convinced him that the United Church has stood out as an agent of change
In "Beneath the Surface of Things," the celebrated anthropologist explores our connections with nature and each other
Wade Davis was once described by the environmental activist David Suzuki as “a rare combination of scientist
poet and passionate defender of all life’s diversity.” Davis
is celebrated for his explorations into global cultures and the traditional relationships between people and plants
the British Columbia native and former explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society brings together years of research to highlight the wisdom and cultural richness of societies around the world
His latest book, Beneath the Surface of Things
draws from this fieldwork to explore the intricacies of our relationships with other humans
Mzwandile Poncana spoke to Davis about this essay collection and in particular his idea of the sacred
Mzwandile Poncana: In the closing essay of Beneath the Surface of Things
you describe an essential force called “the sacred.” What is it
Wade Davis: We often confuse the religious with the spiritual or sacred
Religion is basically about belief systems that attempt to understand what happens in the wake of death
the edge beyond which life as we know it ends and wonder begins
How any culture comes to terms with that inexorable and perpetually mysterious moment defines its religious world view
most religions come down to some kind of attempt to wrestle with eternity and come out on top
religion is all about death and what happens in the wake of death
It’s all about the luminous presence of the divine
We can’t even know it’s there but the possibility that it is there gives us some kind of comfort
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New documentary explores intimate connection between grief and art
MP: How has your personal history with spirituality
dutifully walked off to Sunday school every week at a church of my choosing
I didn’t go to the church to worship the building
any more than a pilgrim does at the gates of a cathedral
You go into the spiritual space to be in the presence of God
and after that I never entered church in my life as a Christian believer
the sacred is something we will into being
A temple becomes sacred not from the rocks from which it is built
hopes and dreams of all those who have sanctified it by their presence
I began to see that what had drawn me to that building was not the religious ideology
but my desire to be in the presence of luminosity
MP: What can the examination of other cultures teach us about western and European culture
we’re living in the legacy of the Enlightenment
which is when we tried to liberate ourselves from the tyranny of absolute faith; when we threw out all ideas of myth
we began to see the world as consisting of material objects governed by mechanical laws rather than a world of spirits
explain the way that we’ve interacted with the natural world for most of modern European history
And the important point to make is this way of thinking is actually highly anomalous
and most cultures around the world base their relationship with the natural world on reciprocity
One of the exciting revelations of genetics — which I mention in the essay “A Message to a Daughter” — is the fact that we have finally proven that we’re all cut from the same genetic cloth
We’re all children of Africa and all descendants of the original humans
This means that the other people of the world aren’t failed attempts at being modern; they’re not failed attempts at being us
Every culture is a unique answer to the fundamental question: what does it mean to be human and alive
MP: You’ve studied the diversity of human cultures and their relationship to the sacred
What bonds all of the different spiritualities together
WD: While we can celebrate the differences between cultures
there’s also this amazing commonality rooted in the fact that we’re one species
beyond the obvious — which is that we all have to deal with the inexorable separation that death implies and not to mention the certainty of death itself — we also all share curiosity and wonder
of intellect — whatever it was that separated us from Neanderthals — all of human experience came down to two questions: how and why
And how a culture answers those two questions has always determined its world view
and “why” is the answer that religion pursues
which is why the two domains aren’t incompatible
we’ve done a good job in moving forward with the question “how.” We haven’t really got that far with “why,” because in a way the “why” question is ultimately unanswerable
And that’s what I’d say the mystery of spiritual intention — the binding of spiritualities — is all about
you describe the link between spirituality and nature
there are two Amazonian tribes — Barasana and Makuna — who believe plants and animals are people in another dimension of reality
What have you learned about the relationship between cultural diversity and preserving the natural world
WD: As a young man who was critical of the logging industry
I decided to see it for myself before I could criticize it
I basically lied about my credentials and got hired as a forestry engineer in a B.C
One of the things that struck me — aside from the fact that there wasn’t a single decision made by us that had anything to do with environmental concerns whatsoever — was that the men and women who were fighting off hunger or feeding their families with a chainsaw weren’t the enemy
I developed enormous compassion for men who lived away from their families and spent their lives destroying the most beautiful forest perhaps on the planet
It became interesting to me to think of how men could do that
and I came away understanding that you can only do that if you completely deanimate that forest and steel your heart to the reality of what one is doing
This relates to the notion of metaphor: as an anthropologist
I’ve spent a great deal of time in the Andes of southern Peru
I participated in a ritual where all the able-bodied men in the village must run across the boundaries of the community land — crossing mountain ridges and elevated land up to 16,000 feet high
The metaphor is that you go into the mountains as an individual
if a child is raised to believe the mountain is a deity that will direct his or her destiny
they’re going to have a different relationship to it than a Canadian kid raised to believe that a mountain is just a pile of rock waiting to be mined
The measure of a culture is not just what it does
the metaphors that propel it forward and the belief systems that mediate the behaviour of its people
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity
Mzwandile Poncana is a journalist and writer in Montreal
The leadership at All Saints decided that opening the building to the public and parishioners was "a way for them to be in community"
Being a more regular church attendee also correlated with another interesting detail about pet ownership
The Bible offers multiple depictions of the afterlife
"Both traditional prayer and digital prayer bring different but equally valuable benefits to the spiritual life," says AI Jesus
John Milton's masterpiece finds new relevance amid COVID-19
opening a new shop that focuses on pet health and wellness was a natural progression
“I’ve been doing this for two-and-a-half years,” said DiCillo
“I started mobile services with the farmer markets and slowly built up my base to the point to where I could open a retail business
I was previously working for a facility that got into fresh food for animals
I decided my passion was to work with animals and their owners
you’ll get a consultation on the different foods offered
because there are pet allergies all across the board.”
DiCillo decided to open a franchise in Broadview Heights after researching area pet owner demographics
North Royalton and Parma – the registration for pets is two-to-one versus one-to-one in most parts of the state
where a lot of people have two or three animals since they have bigger properties out here,” he explained
“People will stop in to buy treats while out walking their dogs
This is a hybrid pet store where we focus on the health and wellness of the animal.”
A variety of fresh kibble mixes made in Northeast Ohio has been one of the most popular products so far
we slow cook it with no byproducts,” explained DiCillo
so it’s not sitting on the shelves like the big box store kibbles
The nice thing is that you can buy it by the pound; so
people like to come in once a week and get five pounds because they know it’s fresh.”
A wide selection of all-natural treats is another top seller
where it’s fat and muscle,” explained DiCillo
“We also offer cod skins from Iceland that contain Omegas 3s and 6s that also helps clean their teeth.”
DiCillo enjoys getting to know pet owners and their pets
and he provides individualized service that best suits a dog or cat.
“I know the product lines and what the benefit to the animal is
you may get a part-time worker who doesn’t know much about the products,” he said
“If you tell us your dog is on a certain diet – going back to our kibble – we can flip to another brand if they get tired of a certain line.”
The business also offers full-service grooming and pet food deliveries
DiCillo’s three teen-aged children often help out in the shop
Customer response has been all positive so far
with much of it by word of mouth,” he said
“I give out sample kibble all the time for customers to try out
I want to build that relationship slowly and make steady progress
I just want people to stop in and see how much different this is here as compared with the big box experience.”
His soft-sell approach has worked well so far.“Customers will find this to be a very approachable place where we don’t push products on them
It’s more of how the items are working for the pets,” said DiCillo
“We can try a variety of treats and kibble
and we want to pamper your dog when we do their grooming
We’re here to provide the best experience possible for your pets.”
Photo caption: Pet Wants owner Todd DiCillo offers customers a variety of fresh kibble mixes made in Northeast Ohio
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intersection will be reinstalled in late summer
CULPEPER — The pedestrian crossing signal heads and hardware at the intersection of Broadview Avenue and Waterloo Street/Frost Avenue in Warrenton will be disabled and removed on Friday, March 14. This is necessary so construction on the Broadview Avenue improvement project can proceed
The hardware and pedestrian poles will be reinstalled when concrete work in that area is complete
pedestrians should be extremely cautious crossing the intersection and drivers should be alert for pedestrians
This intersection sees a lot of pedestrian traffic
especially in the morning and late afternoon when students are crossing before and after school
Current traffic conditions, VDOT’s statewide network of traffic cameras and other real-time travel information is on the 511Virginia website
That information is also available on the free VDOT 511 mobile app or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia
VDOT’s Culpeper District includes the counties of Albemarle
The independent city of Charlottesville maintains its own roads
Please note that this file is not ADA compliant
this generation is flipping the script on end-of-life traditions
Most of us are familiar with wedding expos and baby expos
gigantic showcases that bring together purveyors of top-of-the-line goods and services with clienteles who are facing significant transitions — an impending marriage or birth
They generally take place in arenas or convention centres and attract huge crowds
This event was billed as a “legacy expo,” the phrase being
It was held not in an arena but in a Quaker meeting house in midtown Toronto
a modest space with room for 15 merchants at a circle of tables
I confess that I don’t generally think much about dying
that great bulge in the population whose concerns for so long have dominated the culture
have moved from preoccupations with creative retirement or the adequacies of the health-care system to a fascination with death
Witness the immense popularity last year of the Royal Ontario Museum’s multisensory exhibit Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery or the growth of death cafés
where people dish the dirt on dying over tea and cake
Or the non-funereal celebrations of life that eschew ritual in favour of personal storytelling
death has become the next item on the to-do list
who runs a business publishing people’s memoirs
He billed this event as “offering a new perspective on preparing for life’s final chapters.” While he allowed this was a first dipping of toe into legacy expo water
the Toronto event would be the first of several
“We aim to transform the discourse on death and legacy planning
moving from a realm of taboo and apprehension to one of open and normalized conversation.”
Everything came off as a bit less profound than that
The prevailing mood was a mix of earnest mission and naked salesmanship
Pumped up vendors came armed with services and products
everything from helping folks write their life stories to planning finances and estates
Effy Terry and Sage Goldenberg appeared amply able to assist in decluttering your home and moving you into smaller digs or
providing “estate and death clearing.” Then
Cardinal Funeral Homes or Eirene Cremations
which offers an online urn store and memorial jewelry
stood ready to organize your lifetime of photos
that she now spends time with other people’s pictures
But she can help reduce to a mere shoebox the recycling bins’ worth of photographs that many people have
“Throw out everything but pics with people
and minimize the duplicates,” she advised cheerfully
Other presenters offered services to help people grieve or confront the esoteric mystery of death through videos with such titles as Death and Dreaming: Does Consciousness Continue After Death
and Architecture of Death: The Inner World of Dying
indulged in a bit more speculation than fit my comfort zone
Having grown up surrounded by Christian beliefs
I’m not quite ready to theorize about our levels of consciousness after death
but the movement has its following.) A couple of poets were there
along with practitioners of yoga and meditation
A large vertical banner invited in passersby from the street
but traffic seemed more a trickle than a deluge
from a range of cultural backgrounds and rarely numbering more than two or three at a time
because it’s getting to be that time.” Some who came by were already in the business
Christina and Pearl (visitors who likewise declined to give their surnames) explained that they were training to be death doulas
the offerings fit into a handful of themes
Society and the media may recognize that the silver tsunami of boomers is on its way to overwhelming first the health system and then the death system
but our failure to grapple with important decisions and preparations seems something that’s begging for a remedy
How many people of a certain age have not yet made a will
If you’re a Canadian boomer who expects to leave an inheritance
How many have not booked their decluttering or articulated their funeral or burial wishes
months or even years leading up to the end
A registered nurse who worked in an intensive care unit for 12 years
Hickey has set up an end-of-life consulting company
Advance Care and Emergency Planning (ACE Planning)
through which she is available to help make plans about any number of things
Hers is a fertile field; she told me that when families arrive at the funeral home there are still a huge number of decisions to be made
Does she advise on medical assistance in dying
She said if someone brought that up she would ask them to speak to their primary care provider
Another theme was the relationships and even the tensions between generations
I didn’t see anyone visiting the legacy expo with their parents or their children
will help you clear out your house is to spare your kids
Financial planner Andy Kovacs will enthusiastically help both you and your children make sure you don’t pay more tax than you need to
Expo organizer Brooke and another memoir publisher
will help you put your life story down on paper so it will be there for the grandkids
A third theme had to do with changing attitudes within our society
says the funeral industry is grappling with everything from increasing secularism to environmental consciousness
like-minded communities where ways of doing things can be taken for granted
Funeral homes “can no longer assume the standard mahogany casket with a day of visitation in the chapel and a religious service and burial,” she said
Social fragmentation also means many of us don’t have the same support systems we did in the past
A longtime member of the pastoral care group in her East End United congregation
Baine is familiar with how a local faith community supports its members through grief and bereavement
In her work as a nurse at a Toronto hospital and active member of the Ontario Bereavement Network
she arranges grief counselling for mourners
The service requires jumps across secular and multifaith communities
often using technology to replace face-to-face encounters
Other use of technologies is also becoming more pervasive
a service that sends text messages by phone to clients seeking regular grief support
Men and seniors report finding the texts especially helpful
Technology will be an intriguing — or perhaps alarming — feature of all kinds of death-related experiences in the future
Nobody at the legacy expo was demonstrating robots for personal care or companionship as we might see in Japan
but artificial intelligence was on offer in other ways
Should you engage with Moshe to produce a printed book of your life stories
I’m not quite ready to sign up for many of the services offered at the legacy expo
it will be due to the boomers’ vaunted success at mak- ing everything about us
placing our concerns at the centre of the culture and controlling what that looks like
Boomers are approaching death the way we’ve approached life — rejecting tradition and celebrating individuality — and the legacy expo is tapping into our need to do death our own way
We’ve been able to dominate the agenda for almost our entire lives
Why stop now at the last item on the bucket list
Larry Krotz is a writer and filmmaker in Toronto
His latest book is Trapped by Tourism: Sustainability Questions for a World Fueled by Travelers
This article first appeared in Broadview’s March 2025 issue with the title “Bespoken Death.”
Recently I presided at the service of a funeral director I had worked with for the last 25 years
The biggest lesson was to change the questions we ask families
Instead of "This is what we do..." and conduct a traditional Christian funeral service
"What did this person mean to you and how can I assist in celebrating that?"
This has led to services which are both meaningful to everyone
in the local Legion Hall or some other community place
One service was for a local fiddle teacher
whose students included Canadian champion musicians and well-known artists
A tribute to their teacher turned into a full blown fiddle concert and jam session
Another service for a young man who died on the streets was held in the local community soup kitchen
Was the one who had died remembered and honoured
The way we walk with them and how we help the living honour their loved one is what matters
Our daughter is doing worse than before isolation
and there are no government-funded supports
"The love we feel for a pet is a form of love that people can’t always fill," this author writes
Cat Bohannon's new book shares what gender gaps in medical trials have ignored
Mapping out a magazine when each week contains a year’s worth of upheaval
Canadians buy about two billion milk containers every year
Warrenton drivers should stay alert for workers near travel lanes and business entrances
17 Business (Broadview Avenue) will be closed between Gold Cup Drive and Roebling Street in the Town of Warrenton for approximately 45 days
Crews will be replacing curbs and sidewalks along this section of the roadway from 8 a.m
as part of the Broadview Avenue improvement project
The lanes will remain closed during the overnight hours due to safety restrictions which regulate the distance between construction equipment and the traveling public
temporary lane closures may be possible during the work hours
but access to businesses along the corridor will remain open
Drivers should exercise caution and stay alert for workers near entryways
This SMART Scale project aims to improve safety and ease traffic congestion along the corridor and is scheduled for completion in May 2026
For more information on the scope of this construction, visit the Broadview Avenue improvement project page
A 'softer life' may promise relief — but embracing patriarchy isn’t true liberation
When the first videos of young white women in billowy dresses preparing meals for their husbands and children appeared on my social media
I have no interest in content that romanticizes women’s roles as dutiful wives and mothers
Something about what the internet calls a “trad wife” — short for “traditional wife” — intrigues and shocks me
domesticity — and subservience to their husbands — are specifically feminine traits
They often reference their Christian faith and biblical imperatives to justify their chosen lifestyle
Trad wife influencers have built massive followings on various platforms by sharing aesthetically pleasing content with both subtle and not-so-subtle anti-feminist undertones
their content gets engagement because it can be so polarizing
Take viral Mormon trad wife Hannah Neeleman, known online as @ballerinafarm
The Juilliard-trained influencer gave up a possible career in ballet after her now-husband wanted to get married after only three months of dating
the mother of eight shares baking content from their Utah ranch to her 10 million followers
Why is there a sudden surge of young women lured in by a patriarchal lifestyle that several waves of feminism have rebelled against for generations
It’s counterintuitive and retrograde — like turning back the clock to a time when women had fewer choices and even less freedom
Women who choose traditional lifestyles because they find them liberating aren’t free from the trap of patriarchy
a woman’s workplace achievements were heralded as “girl bossing.” The girl boss was a successful
entrepreneurial role model — and she made it look easy
where women are regularly expected to deliver to a higher standard than their male colleagues
could explain why the call for a softer life feels so seductive
Capitalism’s constant demand for productivity can burn anyone out
with the gender wage gap and toxic work cultures dis- proportionately affecting them
A return to times when men were breadwinners while women served their homes seems like a sweet escape to a nostalgic and imaginary past
One has to consider whose cost this comes at
especially when confronted with the fact that these lifestyles show a malignant side of “choice feminism.” This type of feminism emphasizes that women’s choices are inherently liberating because they have the freedom to choose
But women who choose a traditional lifestyle because they find it liberating aren’t free from the trap of patriarchal systems — just look at Neeleman
she and other women are deliberately tangled up in misogynistic structures that give the illusion of freedom but actually take away from our collective liberation
With trad wife account followers in the millions
it’s more important than ever to shatter that illusion
Shanai Tanwar is a poet and journalist in Vancouver
This article first appeared in Broadview’s April/May 2025 issue with the title “The False Freedom of Trad Wives.”
I am presuming the term "trad wife" has risen in the United States
Although our culture has experienced the same brand of feminism
it has had no respect among feminists who developed after the United Nations declared 1975 the year of the woman
Feminism is therefore a growing edge among society
which means that we all must remain patient with people who experience it differently
There is no reason to believe that a more conservative view such as the trad wife is pushing society back to patriarchy
I have noticed two important things about this phenomenon
One is that if getting further education or starting your own business is out of reach
then being a traditional wife may be a much more appealing option when you have no choice
Who wants to admit they aren't helped to really have a choice
"This election is viewed by most African Americans as a life and death situation."
there has never been any apology to the colonies,” says historian John Kamau
overcame many hurdles to open its emergency shelter
The past few years have seen North American Muslims rise up to openly confront abuse perpetrated by their religious leaders
Canada's health and medical systems aren't equipped to treat the resulting trauma
Air Conditioning & Electrical is embracing a new chapter in its 65-year history of proudly serving the community
who led the company as its second-generation owner and president
is retiring after a long career at Broadview Heating
who will now serve as the company president
Broadview Heating will continue to be owned by the Olecki family.
Broadview Heating has been a cornerstone in the local community
cooling and electrical services to countless families in Northeastern Ohio
the company grew into a trusted household name
synonymous with its commitment to quality service and customer care
Now I look forward to carrying on that legacy.
After working alongside my father for over 20 years
I was fortunate to learn every aspect of the business
I have worn many hats – from installation and service technician to sheet metal fabricator to sales and installation manager
I am committed to upholding the values that made Broadview Heating your go-to company
while also looking ahead at opportunities for growth and innovation
The continued focus of Broadview Heating is to provide an exceptional customer experience
as we’ve done for the past 65 years.
with the addition of an electrical division
This provided us with the opportunity to offer even more comprehensive solutions to our customers
The electrical division covers everything from light fixtures and outlets to main panels
whole house generators and outdoor lighting
Our electrical team consists of three full-time
This division not only enhances our capabilities but also helps us meet the evolving needs of the families we serve.
As the seasons change and warmer weather settles in
Broadview Heating is excited to embrace the future with the next generation at the helm
The dedication to service and community that has defined our family business for over six decades will remain our focus
and to a bright future ahead as we continue to grow and innovate
while staying true to the values that have made us who we are today.
If you have questions or need additional information
please ask Kevin@BroadviewHeating.com or call 440-526-7310
Opinions and claims expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ScripType Publishing
Ohio (WOIO) - The Broadview Heights Fire Department responded to a house fire early Friday morning
crews were dispatched to a house fire around 6:45 a.m
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire conditions
Firefighters rescued the occupant of the home and they were transported to the hospital
The occupant’s dog was also rescued by firefighters
Brecksville and Seven Hill fire departments assisted with this fire
The cause of the fire is now under investigation by the Southwest Emergency Response Team Fire Investigation Unit
Editor and publisher Jocelyn Bell on what connects Broadview’s past to the present and the future
It’s always fascinated me that the starlight we see at night is billions of years old
Light waves travel through space and time to reach Earth
Being the editor and publisher of North America’s oldest continuously published magazine is a bit like looking at starlight
The work we do today is connected to the work we did five years ago when we became Broadview
to the work we did 85 years ago when we became The United Church Observer
to 99 years ago when we became The New Outlook — all the way back to that original spark on Nov
when The Christian Guardian was first published
When we say “continuously published,” we mean that a single light beam — unbroken by wars or pandemics
recessions or other disasters — has connected the many thousands of people who shared their words with the many generations who engaged with their journalism and perspectives
How have we all been so lucky to take part in this radiant idea
it was being raised by United Church minister parents
and pairing the values of my upbringing with a passion for journalism
What inspired you to connect in this unique space
How Broadview’s predecessor silenced Indigenous voices at Confederation
The early Canadian Methodists started The Christian Guardian because they had a feud on their hands with the Church of England and needed a tool to fight for religious equality in the young colony
They delivered their weekly newspaper to Upper Canadian readers by horse over treacherous roads and ultimately accomplished their goal of separating church from state
(You can read Shelley Page’s incredible feature about our history on page 16.)
I love the courage and grit of those early editors
And I see their legacy reflected throughout the many iterations of the publication that followed
including across Broadview’s multiplatform offerings today
Whether our stories are about 2SLGBTQ+ rights
exploring the intersections of faith and science
or calling for a just peace in the Middle East
our progressive Christian ethos continues to shape our drive toward equality and justice
We want to share stories that inspire deep caring for each other
for diverse communities and for our planet
no other publication in Canada can say that it has captured and reflected the light of this land without pause for as long as we have
And no other fully independent media organization exists in Canada to share a progressive Christian lens on the country we have become
All of us at Broadview are making thoughtful plans for our future
we want to create spaces where you not only experience great storytelling
Celebrating a 195th anniversary is a remarkable milestone for any organization
I hope you feel as much a part of the starlight as we do
Jocelyn Bell is the editor and publisher of Broadview
The means of fixing them are right in front of our eyes
what he calls "secrets hidden in plain sight"
Question Box columnist Christopher White shares advice on how to deal with a frustrating congregant
She says ecological healing is our greatest spiritual and moral challenge
"You have to be able to justify on a rational basis why your theology makes sense ..
and be able to spell it out rather than just getting angry," he says
Ambury Stuart says Canadians are showing a stronger commitment to ecological responsibility
resistance and the quiet power of resurrection
The first time Donald Trump was elected president of the United States
Danté Stewart’s life began to disintegrate
poet and writer was the first Black preacher at a mainly white evangelical church in Augusta
But as Trump’s divisive messages began to take hold across the nation
Stewart could hear those same ideas emanating from his pews
He left that church and went on a voyage of self-reflection and discovery, finally finding both a place and a powerful voice in Georgia’s Black Christian community. His journey is detailed in his semi-autobiographical book, Shoutin’ in the Fire: An American Epistle
Stewart was determined to use his voice and influence to make sure Trump did not get into office again
in the first weeks of Trump’s second presidency and with Easter approaching
Stewart names the grief many are feeling and charts the struggle to return to joy
He finds lessons in the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who see Jesus after the resurrection
to go to the places people often don’t go in order to bring them safely through
my task is to courageously face deep human darkness and wrestle with it in its most terrifying forms in hopes to “salvage the bones,” to borrow the title from American novelist Jesmyn Ward’s book
It destroyed the distance between who I once was
who I am becoming and the bridge between the two
I have been on the search for a deeper kind of healing that allows me to look in the mirror
remember the life I have lived and love what I see
I have spent countless hours talking to my therapist
more children have been murdered in schools
and more Black people murdered at a grocery store
Students have encountered book bans and mass arrest
It’s easier to own a gun than it is to get health care
We are collectively struggling with exhaustion and fear and terror and sadness and confusion — not too far off what everyday life was like back almost 2,000 years ago when people awaited a saviour and a friend
And then there is what the late Swiss-American psychiatrist and grief expert Elisabeth Kübler-Ross calls “anticipatory grief.” Donald Trump is back in the White House
We had hoped to stop it; we had hoped we would find a way
we see only more fear and sadness that is visceral because we know what the past has been and done
The question I can’t get out of my mind is this: what can a broken heart do
to somehow provide a prophecy of how things will be in the end and how things are supposed to be in the now
the more I realize that the greatest threat to me and my broken heart is not my doubt but my desire for certainty
And that’s something that nothing — especially a shattered heart — can provide
we are taught that love and grace remain even when pieces of ourselves and the world implode
We learn that the power of telling the story of what happened remains even when hope leaves
A story so real and so unnerving and yet so beautiful and so human
A journey that at times feels like it is headed nowhere and everywhere
It lingers in the darkness of that terrible crucifixion night
with no certainty that resurrection will come
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” writes the southern novelist Zora Neale Hurston
the second day after the 2024 presidential election
My wife is out of the country on a military assignment
I am travelling down a rabbit hole of possible future timelines
But it is not: it is as real and as painful as it was eight years ago
Just this time is much worse for me because now I have children
go to my daughter’s room where both my children are asleep
until from sheer exhaustion I collapse beside them to get one hour of sleep
My mind goes back to the pain and trauma Trump wrought on the nation and its citizens during his first term in office
rubbing both of my children’s backs as they sleep
It has rained the last two days as if Georgia
nature knows: the birds take shelter and an eerie silence echoes in the distance
we went to bed awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Helene
looked outside and couldn’t believe the devastation
I look outside in the darkened sky and hear the dripping from a similar torrent from the night before
I can hardly find their underwear and shirts
I’m pacing up and down the stairs trying to find some sense of normality in the discombobulation
It is a sadness that makes my stomach tight
I am attempting not to feel a burning and indignant rage
telling him the history of Black people in politics
I say that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose
“I just don’t know what is going to happen,” I say
I feel angst rise up as I try to prepare him
I know he will be at school with children who have heard their parents breathe the oxygen of anger and rage from their computer screens
televisions and radios for the last few years
be sure to let me know.” The anxiety deepens as I get them dressed
a burning anger at the thought that what I faced
what my grandparents and their parents faced
“America deserves to suffer with Trump because of the bad choices the country has made.” And I just want to say
Having lived through the first Trump years
how we constantly had to deal with what he unleashed — no
It’s just that this country is racist and sexist
It’s staggering to witness the steady descent into a kind of fascist darkness
Hardly any words can describe what it feels like to be Black and American and determined and blamed and hated
living in a country that would rather destroy itself than acknowledge your existence
And we don’t deserve to endure the collateral damage of the choices of hateful people
to show up to work with people who hate us
We are tired — and we have held the country together only to be bruised and betrayed by it
“It’s kind of like I’m watching a movie from the outside in
like that’s me but not me at all,” I tell my therapist as I sit in front of the computer screen
The stars show themselves through the window of the room I’m in
the sounds of my children playing with my wife downstairs filter into our session
“I guess to be young and gifted and Black is to be haunted by time,” I say
“I don’t think I’m afraid of death as much as I think I’m afraid of time.” Growing up in rural South Carolina
the determination is deep and you live with an internal clock that haunts you because you are so aware of how precarious existence can be and how swiftly death can rob
I tell him about rubbing the head of a man who has lost time
dementia gave him a jerk and twitch that mimic the sort of quickening that the Spirit brings when the service back home is high
I rubbed his head as a gesture of my presence until he finally sat down in front of a small plate my aunt made him that looked to be the same amount of food my two-year-old daughter would eat
The greys of his head fell a bit to the side as the years made a barren land of his scalp
the veins like rivers running toward the ocean of his brown skin and greased with the petroleum jelly that also greased the hands of my grandmother
We always thought he had a bit of Native American in him because of the colour
The story in the South was that Black boys with green eyes were cursed with charm; they could bring down kingdoms with just one look
We don’t deserve to endure the collateral damage of the choices of hateful people
I held his hand in mine and whispered in his ear
the things I had to let go of and the things I’d forced myself to forget
I knew he couldn’t understand the words I spoke
I told him about the sheer joy it brought me to be with him and how good it felt when I rubbed his head and repeated to him old stories
then in North Carolina and then in Georgia
gives you a strange sense of the country — and of the deeper rot beneath the surface
I live in the South and I’m going to die in the South,” my grandmother Margaret Elizabeth Albert would tell me
She and granddaddy were married after he came back from serving in the Korean War
She talks in a soft high-pitched tone that is somewhere between pleasure and resolution
as if the past is at the tip of her fingers
for a woman who has seen so much in 90 years of living
to travel through time is better than to become defeated by it
remains here and will be here in the end is a witness to the forever presence of life: the aura
the vibrancy and vitality that will never leave long after it has departed to elsewhere
the allure for Black people of being protected and praised by whiteness
the technology that grows the wedges and fault lines in our social lives
the partnerships between powerful people to sway the affairs of the world
And the rot is this: we live in a country of bullies
Bullies who can only feel powerful when someone is less than them
who can only feel free when another person is bound
white supremacy and sexism do not die with time but are passed on from generation to generation
We live in a country where we have to prove our humanity and fight for it
We live in a country that takes more than it gives
the kind that happens when millions choose to further your erasure and oppression
when people smile in your face and say they stand with you only to betray you
It’s grief in the inability of our neighbours to show any whit of concern about dismantling the world in a way that helps their child but harms ours
There is fear for our children and their future
knowing the world is immediately a less safe place
where misinformation is mightier than the bomb
where it seems all trust and goodwill between fellow citizens is eroded and sacrificed on the altar of power
It’s bitter disgust at what one man can make people do and say in the name of fear
and that many are about to be emboldened again to become the worst kinds of humans they allow themselves to be
There is grief in the anticipation of what we know will happen
The impending doom that tomorrow will bring because you know what yesterday has been
It’s grief about the past we wear in our literal bones
It’s in the reading of books about failed empires and a bigoted republic and a radicalized populace
only to find yourself not reading history but living it
It’s in the ways law and religion have been weaponized
in the way the country is convinced that the worst kinds of history can’t happen here
It’s in the ways we had foolishly hoped that people would choose differently
“What do you want from this?” my therapist asks
We’ve already been talking for almost two hours
More than the 45-minute appointment allows
“You don’t have to fill your mind,” my therapist replies
I laugh because his cadence feels a bit performative
almost as if he was waiting to use the phrase
“This is what I want you to do: I want you to sit on that orange chair
I want you to listen to music that brings you joy.”
the room lathered in the smells of vanilla and sandalwood from a candle on my desk
I lean my head back and stare into the creases of the ceilings
the same place where my life bounces from wall to wall
that heart-shattering gaze as you face your elders when you see half the country attempting to erase every step toward liberation they’ve taken
The decades of work many have done to make the nation better being rolled back with satisfaction
evaporated in the flames of people who want revenge
The reality that there are people actually intent on destroying this nation we have built
There is grief of being emptied of words and feeling
Of wanting to be angry but failing to have the energy
Of convincing those who don’t live where you live or don’t look like you look that the damage done to your body and mind will be exponentially worse than it was the first time
I am almost at a loss for words when I consider the fact that this is a fight that we just may not win
The forces against liberal democracy are as old and as deceitful as they are new and destructive
and they are wreaking havoc on every aspect of our civic life
but through decades of manipulation have been ushered so deep into our silos that we are a country of states that are united in name and place only
and the story historians will tell of this moment is that we allowed the rot to consume us
But we must be determined to save what is ours
We’ve not had faith in the country but in ourselves
we will defeat the hatred and un-kindness so desperately plaguing our nation
Today is a day we thank our ancestors and elders for showing us the way
we thank everyone who worked hard to beat back the darkness
the troubling waters that often consume us and we must face it once again
preparing for what difficult years await us
as the writer and activist James Baldwin said
those who picked cotton and marched for freedom and won legislation and built this nation
held this nation and its soul together with dignified hands
We do not deserve to give or endure more than we already have
Our weary hearts have already given enough balm to heal the nation’s wounds
waiting for the clouds to pass and as they move
It is of no wonder that lovers are afraid to admit that love is sometimes a useless thing
The varying degrees of human experience bear witness to the words of the great Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe: “Things fall apart.” Be they by happenstance or by choice
And here is the bad news: some good things never start at all
attempting to call the constellations by name
and far too distant a timeline to know what they call themselves
Psychologists and doctors tell us that in the last moments of life
a human is about to return to God or eclipse those stars
the first thing to leave is consciousness of space and time
The dying person will begin to withdraw from the external world
The colours will begin to blend into one another
Some say the dead reach back toward the living
They say the living begin to see and be comforted by the dead
I’ve been thinking a lot about that first Easter and the story in Luke’s Gospel about the disciples on the road to Emmaus
Those two had lost faith in a moment of great struggle
They had seen him grow in wisdom and stature
had seen him nervously get away from crowds
his social anxiety getting the best of him
Not even God could overcome what burdens human beings can become
we are not able to see him or know what conversations he had with himself
but what is known for sure is that sometimes getting away can be the best thing
The disciples had left Jerusalem after Jesus was brutally killed
His life was taken in the most public of ways
This was what we would call a lynching — the disrespectful disregard for life; the ending of it at the hands of evil people
People are made evil by the myriad choices that are made for them and that they make for themselves
Those men had made a choice: Jesus is to die — and he does
In the journal next to me that I have been carrying for weeks now
National Football League star and three-time Super Bowl player David Patten
I wish I could say that regret and friendship can overcome heartbreak and time
I wish I could say that standing at the fallout of a best friend’s fatal wreck can heal a formless gap in my psyche and soul
I wish that every bloody dream can end in being awake and a new day beginning
the reminder that an untimely exit is not the ending of all things
The French philosopher Roland Barthes tells us
The disciples on the road to Emmaus say to each other: “We had hoped he would be the one.” And at that moment
can feel its energy like a divine hug from another world
They run back to their friends to tell them that Jesus has appeared
They refuse to let this world go on lonely
Isn’t that an apt way to describe what we feel when words find us again
When the page is turned and we can finally utter a breath
Even broken and confused words can still be prayer
I have prayed so many times with my hands and with my arms and with my stomach and with my legs
saying to this world like the disciples did: “He is alive.” Death is not the end of a thing but the beginning
Resurrection is far more ordinary and far more powerful than just being here when we were once not
Resurrection is about turning to those who have all but given up and
Here we are together this Easter on the precipice of a world that is dying and a world that is being reborn
Nothing we possess will ultimately save us except the words from within that bear witness to the hope that remains
like the still morning when the snow falls
telling everyone: “What a beautiful kind of dying.”
public theologian and author based in Augusta
This article first appeared in Broadview’s April/May 2025 issue with the title “What Can A Broken Heart Do?”
Many of the women are sex workers and have been left with no income due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Vivian Ketchum on taking apart the Pope's words to heal herself
food security means more than just low-cost food and access to grocery stores
A writer and newspaper editor on the significance of this race for the future of the United States
From a pioneering Black minister to a doctor who attended to Abraham Lincoln after he was shot
This sermon was the runner-up in Broadview’s first-ever Best Christmas Sermon Ever contest. You can watch the other winning sermons here
I hate feeling guilty about avoiding busy stores by ordering gifts on Amazon
I hate buying toys that will be broken by Boxing Day
Or more precisely I hate when someone else trims the tree and I can’t stop myself from re-trimming it when they’re not looking
I hate pulling out the decorations I’ve had for 40 years and realizing I’ve had them for 40 years
I hate trying to co-ordinate everyone’s busy schedules so we can sit down for a meal together
I hate it when I burn the cookies everyone expects me craft to perfection
I hate sappy Christmas movies and radio stations that start playing Christmas music on the 1st of November and I HATE Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town almost as much as Mariah Carey singing All I Want for Christmas is You
I hate the commercials that insist $129.99 for a contraption that heats bath towels is the perfect gift
I hate the dozen or so emails I get every day asking for money for this or that charity whose CEO earns 50 times the minimum wage
I hate those Facebook posts that say: “It’s Merry Christmas
Let’s be honest; you hate some of that too
That’s why you go to a darkened sanctuary on Christmas Eve to leave all that behind and to soak up the feeling that is in that sacred space
There are two elements to hope: expectation and trust
Hope is an expectation that something good is going to happen and the trust that it will happen
even if the outcome is not what we expected
Hope is knowing there is more than one outcome to every situation
and it might just be better than we imagined
Fuelled by the predictions of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah
they were expecting a king to kick out the Romans and give them back their country
the people of Israel longed for a leader who could call on the power of God to knock down fortress walls like Joshua did
or bring on plagues and fiery tornadoes like Moses did
It’s like when you open that big mysterious box under the tree and inside you find a vacuum cleaner
but exactly what you need to clear away the mess Christmas leaves behind
Who would think what was needed to transform and save
And the people he healed went out and healed other people
The powers of fear are strong in our world right now
but today we remember that a child called Emmanuel came
a child whose name means “God is with us.” Us with God
drifting around in the hope that fills the darkened sanctuary you have chosen this night
Bring on the demagogues and the tyrants; we’ve got a baby born in a manger
Bring on the pipelines and the climate deniers; we’ve got shepherds of the land who will not be moved
We will dismantle their empire one stone at a time without raising an army or firing a single shot because God – not nations
Don’t let anonymous hateful comments go unchallenged
but I have long shared some of the sentiments expressed by Ms
but I also feel a fair bit of dislike over the almost-overwhelming aspects of commercialized gift-giving
it comes with lots of anxiety for many folks
too much post-Christmas debt for some folks
then there is the true Christmas message of love
Let us celebrate and give thanks for the real Christmas
"And Also Some Women" looks at biblical women through a feminist lens
We may have seen a victory for democratic values
personal narratives are helping me find my own meandering path
A terminal cancer diagnosis put Catherine Wreford and Craig Ramsay's decades-long friendship to the test
The game has a resurrection in spring and a finale every fall in the "holiest of holy" days
Home > News > Broadview Responds to Growing Food Insecurity with $362,500 in Donations to Food Pantries Across New York
As food pantries across New York face an urgent need for resources, Broadview Federal Credit Union stepped in with a $362,500 donation to support 43 food pantries statewide
including more than 20 in the Capital Region
While past holiday donations often provide a short-term boost
many pantries now find their shelves bare as demand continues to rise
Broadview’s contribution will help bridge this gap and provide critical funding when it is needed most
employees from Broadview visited dozens of organizations across the state including Trinity Alliance
where they presented a donation to support the organization’s efforts in providing essential services to families in need
Daquetta Jones-Johnson emphasized the impact of community partnerships in addressing food insecurity
“Our efforts to combat food insecurity would not be possible without partners like Broadview
Trinity’s two food pantries served nearly 130,000 meals last year
It’s donors like Broadview who keep children
It’s that simple…and that important
another two dozen Broadview employees personally delivered donation checks to the following pantries across the state
reinforcing the organization’s commitment to the communities it serves
our commitment to community goes far beyond financial services—we are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Michael Castellana
Chief Executive Officer of Broadview Federal Credit Union
“By supporting organizations that are on the front lines of fighting hunger and food insecurity
we are helping to provide critical resources to those who need them most
we can make a lasting impact and ensure more families have access to the food and support they deserve.”
The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York was also a beneficiary of today’s initiative
“Broadview Federal Credit Union is a tremendous community partner and their support is ensuring we are feeding more neighbors in need,” said Tom Nardacci
“We would not be able to meet the increasing needs of our communities throughout the Capital Region
Hudson Valley and Northern New York without the generosity and support from partners like Broadview Federal Credit Union
On behalf of our staff and thousands of volunteers
Broadview also made contributions to organizations in Buffalo
reinforcing its ongoing dedication to hunger relief initiatives across their branch footprint
“I want to thank everybody for this beautiful gift which will help feed many people
We are so grateful for you,” stated Co-Founder and Co-Director Amy Betros of St
“The greater Syracuse area is experiencing an unprecedented increase in homelessness
Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Onondaga County
“Broadview Federal Credit Union has once again stepped-up to assist the most vulnerable members of our community through its generosity
We are both fortunate and blessed to call Broadview our partner and friend.”
Leadership Investors are committed businesses and organizations that take a leadership role in our work to accelerate business growth and prosperity in our community
all Christians will be celebrating the holiday on the same day
and Pope Francis wants to make this permanent
Religious leaders have been arguing for centuries about the correct date of Easter
we measured the passage of months according to the phases of the moon
But we measure daylight hours and the movement from summer to winter according to Earth’s orbit around the sun
The calculation of Easter’s date relies on a combination of lunar and solar methods of telling time
A pilgrim seeks meaning on St. Cuthbert’s Way
Can glass sanctuaries open minds?
A journey to where light and darkness meet
when day and night are equal and days are lengthening in the Northern Hemisphere
But pinpointing the date of the spring equinox depends on how mathematicians
astronomers and politicians juggle lunar and solar calendars:
• Julius Caesar’s attempt in 46 BCE placed the spring equinox from March 21 to 25
partly depending on whether it was a leap year
The Julian calendar is still used to calculate Eastern Orthodox Easter
the Roman church used a 19-year cycle developed by Dionysius Exiguus that placed the equinox on March 21
The Celtic church later adopted the Roman calendar too
But the calendar problems and controversies didn’t end there
The Julian year turned out to be 11 minutes and 14 seconds too long
the actual spring equinox fell on about March 11
Roman Catholic Pope Gregory XIII stepped in to fix the issue
he corrected the designation of the full moon
are still used by Roman Catholic and Protestant churches to calculate Easter
a rarity: the Julian and Gregorian calendars are aligned
meaning Easter is on April 20 for all Christians
Pope Francis would like to make this alignment permanent
recently calling on the global church to find a single
author and playwright and the features editor at Broadview
This article first appeared in Broadview’s March 2025 issue with the title “On the trail of St
It would make more sense to birth Jesus in liturgical Year A and crucify him in Year C
allowing him to grow up and minister in Year B
The way we have been doing it for centuries
Mary has to be pregnant with Jesus (40 weeks ahead of Christmas) before Jesus dies
No wonder so many youth give up on Christianity as being irrational and unbelievable
The congregation is working to support its members amid massive loss and displacement
To be out would mean that our church would formally become a place of inclusivity and safety
The Cape Breton author draws from her roots in a bold new children's book
“Reading Genesis” connects the ancient text to the modern anxieties we all face
Okoli was a trailblazer in her field before tragedy struck
SEATTLE — A 27-year-old man was hospitalized after being shot in Seattle's Broadview neighborhood in north Seattle Wednesday evening
Seattle police said they received a call just before 7:30 p.m
reporting the sound of gunfire in the 12200 block of Ridgemont Way
officers discovered the victim inside a vehicle
suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso and arm
Officers gave the aid until medics from the Seattle Fire Department arrived
The victim was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition
and no information or description is available at this time
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000
A minister offers a different interpretation of the angels that show up to announce Jesus' birth
This sermon won third place in Broadview’s first-ever Best Christmas Sermon Ever contest. You can watch the other winning sermons here
I’m surrounded by dozens of children decked out in costume
from the Virgin Mary to the three wise men
I’ve got a blue tunic on and a tea towel tied around my head
Haloes of sparkling silver and gold tinsel perched on their heads
I’m reminded of that mall with the brown-tiled floors
Now, there’s probably an image of Christmas that pops into your head, too. Could be a childhood Nativity play like me. Could be Linus reciting Luke’s Gospel in A Charlie Brown Christmas
Or it could be the official Kirkland Nativity set from Costco
Even though we live in what is becoming a less and less Christian
we all likely have images of the Christmas story that come to mind
there’s nothing wrong with pleasant or comforting
Christmas is about tidings of comfort and joy
But these Christmas images we have often obscure just how weird this part of the Bible is
I preached a sermon about the little mention of Quirinius
The sermon was called “Keep the Quirinius in Christmas.” Get it
Like “Keep the Christ in Christmas.” Har har
but today’s sermon is titled “Keep the Heavenly Host in Christmas.”
We tend to think of angels like those in my Christmas play
But you notice that when the angel shows up to the shepherds
The old King James Version says that they were “sore afraid.” Now
sparkly haloes and rosy cheeks scare anybody at all
One of my favourite depictions of any Bible story is the English poet William Blake’s 1809 illustration of the angels visiting the shepherds
Or just particularly creative and spiritual
You’d need some real professional costuming at your preschool if you wanted to pull this one off
No wonder the angel tells the shepherds to “be not afraid.”
It’s an older English definition: “host” meaning “army.” It’s an army of angels
And the army part isn’t just a figure of speech
like saying “Santa needs an army of elves to make his presents.” It’s an actual army
the last thing we probably want to do is mix war imagery and religion
But that kind of war — the kind waged with weapons and violence
by and against flesh-and-blood people — that’s not the kind of war these armies are fighting
This is a war waged under the surface of things
but rather a war waged for human beings against the spiritual forces that hold God’s good creation in bondage
A war for life and goodness and peace and beauty against all that seeks to trample it
This is the battle the heavenly host are engaged in: a war to rescue human hearts
why exactly do they show up to these shepherds in the middle of nowhere
because they have an important announcement: that the Messiah
the one sent by God to set the world right
it means that an end is in sight to the war that they’re fighting
The world as it’s always meant to be — this world is on the way
“Peace on earth and goodwill towards all.”
Check out the baby in the manger.” Jesus is like D-Day before the end of the war
goodness prevails and victory is finally in sight
He’s the sign that — in the words of Sam Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings — everything sad is becoming untrue
it’s not exactly the message you hear on the speakers in the aisle at Loblaws
The message of the heavenly host is this: the war is over
And the best part of it is that it’s for me
The losing battle you’ve fought against depression and despair
Christmas means there’s always forgiveness
Christmas means there’s always the possibility of peace
It’s why we’re raising money for the Comox Valley Recovery Centre
Not because we believe we’re pushing a boulder up a hill
We’re going with the grain of the universe
angelic promise that there is more going on in our world than meets the eye
One that is greater than all our brokenness
Whatever the battle being waged across Creation or inside the human heart
Christmas means that — by grace — the battle has been won
then just remember: keep the heavenly host in Christmas
Take their advice and just look to the baby in the manger
For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour
May we follow this sign to a future without end
This sermon won third place in Broadview’s first-ever Best Christmas Sermon Ever contest
What used to be a private lap dance room is now a youth ministry
Fresh spin on sharing office space encourages religion and careers
we may feel spurned but must gather strength to fight for good
Timothy Schmalz aims to shift from emphasis off hell with an 'epic representation'
The Brecksville-Broadview Heights gymnastics team extended its national-leading state title streak to 22 on Saturday
winning the Ohio State meet with a total of 148.700
The Bees broke the national streak record six years ago
“I wasn’t even born when this legacy started,” senior captain Gianna Ravagnani told Cleveland.com’s Noah Weiskopf
“I think it’s so cool to continue [the win streak].”
It’s the 26th state title in program history
Magnificat finished as the tournament’s runner-up
has taken over the powerhouse program and is yet to see her team lose a state title
The win marks the 26th state championship overall in the program’s history
With immense pressure on the girls going in and competing for Brecksville to continue its historical run
Schneider’s message to the team was simple
“Have fun and also go in with no regrets,” Brecksville-Broadview coach Maria Schneider told Weiskopf
leave it all out on the floor and whatever happens happens from there
but that they’re capable of doing it if they hit and stay healthy.”
“It’s almost like antagonistic feelings are being forced upon us,” says Rev
who crosses the border every Sunday to lead worship
Canada and the United States are divided along many lines
but among the haziest of those lines are the geographic ones
that closeness has been strained — talks of Canada becoming the 51st state
tariffs and the heightening of dismaying political rhetoric whose potential consequences are unknown
there are churches sitting close to those dividing lines
1,200–resident peninsula in Washington State
It’s bordered by Canada to the north and water on three sides
This happened either through administrative error as the border was drawn or purposefully to maintain U.S
access to valuable salmon fishing territory
Point Roberts’s economy relies on tourism and cross-border shopping
“We were locked up for a year and a half,” says Louise Cassidy
“It was very hard and very lonely.” It broke people’s habits of crossing the border
but it is now bracing for the possible impacts of tariffs — their water comes from B.C.
their electricity is drawn from Canadian wires
and all their goods have to travel through Canada
Will Trump use military force against Canada? This author says he might.
Most Point Roberts residents are dual citizens
The grocery store cash drawers carry both currencies
The church congregation is split 50/50 between Americans and Canadians
They try to keep politics out of the services
“We’ve always been that way,” says Cassidy
“It’s weird to be such a family here on the border and have people outside fighting about it
Divided now by the international border along St
“I can literally see Michigan from my front lawn,” says Rev
I think it’s just a narrow channel that divides us
But it’s a whole culture that divides us.”
Ferguson has found Emmanuel become a haven for those on the U.S
side who are feeling disenfranchised — about a dozen folk
are joining either the church’s closed Facebook group or in-person services
How do you create a ministerial climate where people can be renewed and restored under the current circumstances
“You have to walk carefully,” says Ferguson
“We want to acknowledge the constant level of high stress we’ve been under for years
She crosses the border every Sunday to lead worship at St
a sense of disconnect crept in before the election
“I think the change started with COVID,” she says
some people didn’t go inside the church for almost two years
I think that interrupts a sense of community.”
The election hasn’t destroyed the good feelings of community in the congregation
“It’s almost like antagonistic feelings are being forced upon us,” says Bedell
when she crosses the border to go to church
a customs officer will ask if she doesn’t have a church in her own country — not with any animosity
Bedell leaves space in services for people to talk about how they’re feeling
but has pulled back on expressing her own political opinions to give people space and ownership over their own thoughts
“I find my gratitude in today and not focusing too much on the future because it’s so uncertain
I think we’re in for a lot more unhappiness before things smooth out
But each one of us has more blessings than we realize.”
Don Robertson are donating almost all of the money they earn to First United in Vancouver
Carmen Lansdowne on young people as the “chief cornerstone” of the current and future church
A Christmas message from the United Church moderator about transforming our communities for the better
Read on to find out which of the four types of United Church believer best matches your set of beliefs
Decolonization goes beyond reconciliation — it's an effort to repair relationships and make reparations
Reader question: Whatever happened to the plans to build a new YMCA on the [Broadview] soccer fields in Allouez
Last news articles I can find on it are from 2023 with mention of plans to build in 2025
And several recent Allouez government meetings have alluded to the project not going forward as planned
Answer: The memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022 by Village President Jim Rafter and Sean Elliott
the former CEO of the Greater Green Bay YMCA
that set the project in motion was allowed to expire
It wouild replace the Broadview Y at 380 Broadview Drive
When asked about the status of the project
the Greater Green Bay YMCA emailed the Press-Gazette a statement from interim CEO Jamie Hanner that said: "We haven't ruled out anything yet regarding options to replace or upgrade the Broadview YMCA
The Greater Green Bay YMCA remains committed to the community of Allouez and serving our thousands of members that reside there," the statement read
a final statement was issued through Director of Marketing Kenzie Hagerstrom: "We are committed to serving the community of Allouez
The Green Bay YMCA's MOU with the village of Allouez has expired and will not be renewed at this time
In discussions with the leadership of Allouez
it was mutually agreed that the soccer field property may not be the future site of the YMCA
We look forward to exploring future projects to ensure our community is served in Allouez
We have no further comments at this time."
The terms of the non-binding memo stated that ownership of the 17-acre parcel would transfer to the YMCA once it raised 60% of the $35 million goal ― which is $21 million
Elliott had said the plan was to open the new facility within two years of reaching the fundraising goal
This didn't mean that the YMCA planned the new facility would open in 2025
Much of the soccer complex would've retained their athletic use under the plans; 10 acres would've been devoted to outdoor recreational space
and two acres to build the facility itself
The existing Broadview YMCA was planned to remain vacant for a year before being given to the village
"rely substantially on charitable gifts and donations," but loans
In 2023, the first full year of tax filings after the December 2022 announcement, all of the fundraising, grants, and gifts received by the Greater Green Bay YMCA totaled $1,807,952, tax filings show
or about 8.6% of the $21 million required to begin the transfer and construction process
These figures show how much the YMCA received across its entire operation
and tax documents don't show much of the fundraised money was allocated for the Broadview YMCA project specifically
meeting that it would extend the MOU deadline for 90 days to Sept
"Obviously they're not going to be meeting the current timeframe of the MOU," said then-Village Administrator Brad Lange during the June 4 meeting
"And we're looking at an extension of 90 days just to keep things moving."
the village could consider whether another would be necessary
Rafter then addressed those in the public gallery directly
"The reason for the extension is the Y is still working on raising money for their part and getting donors
and they can't commit to anything until they have the money."
In September 2024, the YMCA opened a new branch in Suamico in the former Experience Fitness building in the Urban Edge Towne Centre
Elliott specifically noted in a new release ahead of its opening that
"This expansion does not detract from our existing plans
the Village Board did not take up another motion for a 90-day extension
The village's Parks Committee pushed off discussing other plans for the Broadview Soccer Complex on Nov
Capital improvements were put on hold due to potential YMCA plans, said Allouez's Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Director Chris Clark during the Jan. 28 meeting
it doesn't sound like the YMCA is going to go into this space
That's why I wanted to bring this back to the committee," he said
"because I didn't want to keep putting things on hold
When a resident at the meeting asked why Clark said it didn't look like the YMCA was going to utilize the soccer complex space
"Because it doesn't look like the Y's going to go there."
Clark continued that he was told the YMCA was emphasizing the restoration of its existing Broadview Y rather than build from scratch in a new location
one of the spearheading figures of the YMCA's project
who said he last spoke to the Y on the project about a month ago
told the Press-Gazette last week that Clark misspoke and denied that plans were stalled
nor insinuate that finances had anything to do with it
"The short answer is nothing's happened to the plans," Rafter said
Send them to Jesse Lin at 920-834-4250 or jlin@gannett.com to look into and come back with an answer every Monday
Sadiya Ansari tells the story of a woman who challenged tradition and forged her own path
For seven years, award-winning Canadian journalist Sadiya Ansari reported from three continents to uncover a century-old family secret, culminating in her debut book, In Exile: Rupture, Reunion, and My Grandmother’s Secret Life
Her investigation looks into why her grandmother (Daadi) left her seven children to follow a man from Karachi to a small village in Punjab — a man whom she eventually also left
Ansari wanted to understand who her grandmother became when she was neither a wife nor a mother
led her to another question: What opportunities exist for women who defy traditional norms
Sheima Benembarek spoke with Sadiya Ansari about writing personal narratives and the role of women in the Desi community
Sheima Benembarek: In the book you write that growing up “is arriving at the understanding that your parents don’t know everything
they can be unreliable narrators.” Did you have to get your parents’ consent to talk about them critically
Sadiya Ansari: I’m sure the same would be true for anyone who has parents
[Parents] want to give you a version of the story that suits them
Whether that’s not wanting to answer more questions from their children
or upholding family mythology consciously or unconsciously
And because there were these myths around my family being traditional and pious and educated and all these good things that in cultures like mine are so valued
not everyone’s perfect.’ There’s this strange idea that we should all be perfect
and I don’t really understand why because in any family you find transgressions
That doesn’t make people any less worthy of love or respect
I wanted to tell my family’s story without necessarily thinking of it as a criticism of them
but there are parts where I criticize my parents or my grandmother
I felt like he was my investigative partner; sometimes he was my executive assistant calling people and asking for interviews
But I was really surprised with the latitude he gave me
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SB: Have your views on feminism changed…especially when you take culture and history—like Pakistani traditions and the effects of partition—into consideration
SA: The one thing that I really thought about while looking at my grandmother’s life from a feminist perspective was agency: What kind of agency did she have
In contemporary discourse — especially if you’re in a privileged position
as I am; I have a lot of freedom compared to her — mainstream feminism presents itself as having solved the problem of agency or choice
But current discussions on marriage and motherhood
that’s not really true in those structures
If you’re outside of wifedom or motherhood
your value as a woman is just not the same
And then not becoming those things can also means you don’t gain a certain other type of womanly power
have you changed your perspective on motherhood and wifedom
But I just think what parents have to do in our society is really difficult
I don’t know if I could do that and write another book
I used to think of it as something that seemed very suffocating
I think that partnership can be something that is mutually beneficial
But I’m not going to be installing my white picket fence anytime soon
SB: Have you learned anything that has brought you closer or further away from Islam in the process of researching material for this book
SA: Less so with regards to religion and more when it comes to culture and historical context
The depth of the research I did is not 100 percent reflected in the book
I started at the beginning of colonization in India
hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years ago
and asked myself what that does to a society when it’s been embedded for so long
Writing the book helped me understand the dynamics of religion and society and how things became so fractured
SB: What do you think Daadi would think of the book
SA: I didn’t sit down to write this with an idea of the kind of person I wanted her to come across as
I just knew that she was a really complicated person
But in every grandmother is a complicated person
Arundhati Roy once spoke about the kinds of characters she writes about: people that you sort of walk by
like a security guard or maybe someone who’s asking for money on the street
I think grandmothers are a similar type of person
that her life was something that I thought was very worthy of recounting
SB: There is a recurring theme of leaving or fleeing
What are your thoughts now on the idea of leaving your community to find yourself
it’s the place where I’ve spent most of my life
It was less about leaving to find myself and more about leaving to affirm myself
When you’re in a place where people are constantly reflecting who they think you should be
Leaving gave me the space to tune into what I really thought and felt and gave me permission to wonder
what does another type of life look like for me
This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Sheima Benembarek is a Moroccan Canadian writer
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