Kerstin's Chocolates shares profits with Change for Children

Kerstin Roos, the Edmonton-based creator of exquisite gourmet chocolates, has decided to give 10 per cent of her company's net profits to the children's charity, Change for Children.

Roos, whose chocolate shop is called Kerstin's Chocolates, has chosen Change for Children as the beneficiary of the donation because doing so helps support people living in parts of the world where most of the cacao that is used to make chocolate is grown - Latin American and Africa. Change for Children is Edmonton-based, and does a lot of work in Bolivia, Nicaragua,  and Tanzania, among other countries.

Kerstin's Chocolates (that's her at right in this Journal photo by John Lucas) buys her chocolate from fair-trade suppliers, and has visited cacao-growing communities in The Caribbean.

To spread the word about the importance of supporting sustainable cacao farming, as well as Change for Children, Roos is holding a public chocolate tasting workshop for kids and parents at the McKernan School Gymnasium at 11330-76th Avenue on Thursday, December 16th at 5 p.m. Donations for Change for Children will be collected at the door. While everyone is welcome, tickets must be reserved in advance as seating is limited. Go to www.kerstinschocolates.com for tickets and for more information.

Change for Children was founded in 1976 and works with grassroots organizations in Africa and Latin America to help communities improve access to clean water, education and healthcare, and to promote the rights of children, women and indigenous peoples. Go to www.changeforchildren.org for more information.

Kerstin's Chocolates was founded in 2003 and has a storefront at 10139-112 Street. Call 780-990-0011.

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Awareness in the unconscious

In PicturesPublished Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 11:43PM EDTBritish researcher Adrian Owen has pioneered a new way to communicate with seemingly unconscious patients Hide caption

Brain images from a patient who was deemed vegetative but was able to imagine playing tennis would be great, especially compared to a healthy control. She isn't answering questions, but merely showing that she is conscious by producing the two brain states when asked to imagine playing tennis and imagine moving from room to room in her house. Again, a control is included for comparison.

(Adrian Owen/MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

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Brain images from a patient who was deemed vegetative but was able to imagine playing tennis would be great, especially compared to a healthy control. She isn't answering questions, but merely showing that she is conscious by producing the two brain states when asked to imagine playing tennis and imagine moving from room to room in her house.

(Adrian Owen/MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

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University of Western Ontario (UWO) professor Fred Possmayer plays tennis at the university's tennis centre October 27, 2010. Professor Possmayer has recovered after suffering a heart attack and falling into a coma while playing. While in the coma he was part of a research study by world renowned brain researcher Dr. Adrian Owen who will shortly be taking a position at UWO.

(Geoff Robins/The Globe and Mail)

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Dr. Adrian Owen has spent the last 20 years pioneering breakthroughs in cognitive neuroscience.

(University of Western)

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Brain researchers (from left) Beth Parkin MSC, Dr. Adrian Owen, and Dr. Damian Cruse. Dr. Owen and his team will be researching recorded electrical impulses in the brain of comatose people showing they are actually aware and can respond by thinking of things.

(Randy Quan for The Globe and Mail)

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Thigh-highs add a stylish touch this season, whether they’re cozy cable-knit numbers or cheeky collegiate ones

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British researcher Adrian Owen has pioneered a new way to communicate with seemingly unconscious patients

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As high-altitude house prices and shifting lifestyles have combined with a push for urban densification from city planners, Vancouver has turned to laneway poroperties.

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See how the crop nutrient gets from the earth, to a shipping container, to China

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Behind every military medal, a story

VeteransPublished Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 11:11PM ESTLast updated Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 10:22AM EST1 comment

We see them every Nov. 11: A confetti of striking colours emblazoned across veterans' chests as we honour those who fought for Canada's freedom and the freedom of others.

From ‘freebies' shared with civilians to those awarded for having the courage to serve in the trenches, from honours for maintaining tenuous peace in war-torn regions to those for tours of duty in some of the world's most forbidding areas. They belong to Canada's warriors. To Canada's peacekeepers.

And they reveal the secrets of battles fought, of trials and tribulations persevered, of sacrifices made in the shaping of our nation and in helping it claim its spot on the world stage. Here are the tales behind the decorations.

Veteran Tom Hoppe is seen outside of his home in Kingston, Ontario on November 6, 2010.— Jennifer Roberts for The Globe and Mail

Tom Hoppe, 43

Sergeant, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, Kingston

“I had no intention of getting medals. There are always trophy hunters, that's human nature. Maybe to some, a medal is a trophy. To me, it's not. I didn't say. ‘I'm going to be a hero.' There's something to do. You get it done.”

Tom Hoppe's medals are seen left to right in his home on November 6, 2010: Meritorious Service Cross, given for leadership and bravery under fire during 1993 Bosnian tour; Medal of Bravery, for rescuing three kids trapped under sniper fire during the 1993 Bosnian tour; Special Service Medal, for NATO tour in Europe 1985-1990; Peace Keeping Medal, given to all soliders who serviced on a peace keeping tour; United Nations Protection Force Medal, 1993 Bosnia; Canadian Forces Decoration, for 12 years of good service— Jennifer Roberts for the Globe and Mail

1. Meritorious Service Cross

“Bosnia, 1993. They called it a peacekeeping mission, but I totally disagree with that term. It was a full-out war. The term peacekeeping is a myth. … I worked in a patrol of eight guys. We were involved in a number of incidents, a number of firefights. The medal is just not for me, its for the eight guys, without whom I wouldn’t have been able to do what I had to do. It’s for leadership.”

2. Medal of Bravery

‘Three or four kids were under sniper fire [in Visoko, outside Sarajevo.] I went out with another guy and pulled them out. The Meritorious Service medal and Medal of Bravery were both given for the same tour. At that time – it’s since changed – that made me the most decorated Canadian soldier since Korea.”

3. Special Service Medal

“For serving in NATO in Germany. You get it for serving 30 days in theatre. I was there for five years.”

4. The Peacekeeping Service Medal

“Everybody got this. It’s for being on a peacekeeping tour. For peacekeeping anywhere in the world.

“Peacekeeping – this big myth that we go over and hand out flowers and build schools. That’s part of it, but you can’t do that until there’s peace. Peacekeeping is war. We put this perception in people’s minds that it’s safer.”

5. United Nations Peacekeeping Protection Force Medal

“This was specific for peacekeeping in Bosnia. Sarajevo was just blown to crap. I sat on a hill overlooking the old ski jump from the Olympics and parts of the city, watching it constantly shelled.”

6. The Canadian Forces Decoration

“This is for 12 years of good service. Nothing special. If you get some jail time, you’re not going to get it. I did my job.”

WWII Vet Andrew Bogle who is now 86 years old and lives in Calgary, AB. Born in Scotland he arrived in Canada with his parents in 1927. He enlisted with the Navy in Winnipeg in February 1943 and served 32 months on the H.M.C.S.Nene, a British Frigate with Canadian Crew. He was photographed in Calgary on Friday, November 05, 2010.— Chris Bolin for The Globe and Mail

Andrew Bogle, 86

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Carol Berner released on bail

Published Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 2:13PM ESTLast updated Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 2:17PM EST0 comments

Drunk driver Carol Berner has been granted bail while awaiting the appeal of her impaired and dangerous driving convictions.

The 58-year-old Delta, B.C., woman is appealing her convictions and two-and-a-half year prison term for the May 2008 crash that killed four-year-old Alexa Middelaer.

The incident occurred while the girl was feeding a horse on the side of the road, and also severely injured her aunt.

Ms. Berner has been held in custody in Surrey while awaiting the Court of Appeal ruling.

It could be late 2011 before the high court hears her case.

Ms. Berner returns to court next June 15 to set a date for the appeal.

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