Shutdown of Riverdale High School, Toronto Serial Killer Pleads Guilty, Technology Playmaker Awards

Hosted by Ahmad Moujtahed

Stories by Ahmad Moujtahed

________________________________________________________________

LOCAL

Due to space shortages in the French school system, the Quebec government decided to hand over Riverdale High school in Montreal’s West Island to the French Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board.

Quebec Premier François Legault said the decision to close Riverdale High School was necessary as he referred to the change as an “exceptional situation”.

The Quebec government decision means that by Fall of this year, roughly 400 English-language students would have to disperse across other schools of the Lester B. Pearson School Board network.

The abrupt shutdown raised concerns among the Liberal Opposition and Anglophone community groups who criticized the fact that a decision has been made without consultation.

NATIONAL

Slightly more than a year after his arrest, Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur has pleaded guilty to 8 accounts of first degree murder.

Subsequently there will be no trial for McArthur as his sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place next week, during which a full agreed statement of facts will be revealed publicly.

Between 2010 and 2017, the 66-year-old landscaper had been targeting men most of them linked to Toronto’s Gay Village. Most of the murders have been described in court as “sexual in nature”.

INTERNATIONAL

Booking.com has publicly announced its finalists for the second annual Technology Playmaker Awards. These awards aim to acknowledge and honor women across the world who are transforming businesses, industries, and communities through the use of technology.

Building on the response to last year’s awards which were limited to nominations from across Europe, this year’s finalists come from more than 20 countries including Canada, India, Mexico, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.

One of the finalists will have the opportunity to earn the title Technology Playmaker of the Year at the awards gala scheduled to take place on March 13 in London.