Goat Canucks Goat!

Joel Nagtegaal and nine of his roller hockey buddies, not content with growing goatees to support the Vancouver Canucks' playoff run, decided to buy a goat every time the Canucks won a game. The goats will be purchased through the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), which provides goats to families suffering from poverty or natural disasters to help them get re-established. Nagtegaal is a member of The Bridge Community Church in Langley, BC and a student at Fraser Valley University. The original 10 participants hoped to buy 16 goats at $25 each. However, after the idea received media attention, thousands of people have visited their website and hundreds have joined their Facebook group. As of April 28, participants had contributed 322 goats worth $8,050. The participants say that if the Canucks win the Stanley Cup, they will donate an elephant to a village.

Bill regulates mines

Private members Bill C-300, which is designed to regulate the activities of Canadian mining, oil and gas companies in developing countries, passed second reading in the House of Commons on April 22. It has now been sent to the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Development for detailed study. The Roman Catholic relief agency Development and Peace has collected almost half a million signatures in support of the bill, presented by Liberal MP John McKay.

Bill regulates humans

Bill C-268, an act to amend the Criminal Code to impose minimum mandatory sentences on those convicted of the trafficking of persons under the age of 18, passed second reading in the House of Commons on April 22. It will now proceed to the Justice Committee for detailed study. The bill, introduced by Conservative MP Joy Smith, is supported by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

United they stand

A 'United for Peace' delegation from the United Church of Canada and its Canadian and global partners will travel to Ottawa May 4 - 6 to meet with officials from the Departments of Indian Affairs and Foreign Affairs, as well as opposition Members of Parliament. The purpose of the visit is to: raise concerns about Canada's foreign policies and offer proposals to reduce violence and human rights violations in the Philippines, Colombia and Palestine/Israel; and to urge Parliament to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

A foundation by any other name

The Canadian Anglican Foundation, an organization created in February to fund "traditional" Anglican ministries in Canada, has been renamed the Cranmer Foundation of Canada. It was renamed in response to objections from the Anglican Foundation of Canada, a much older organization that awards grants and loans to Anglican churches in Canada. The Anglican Foundation of Canada was concerned that the similarity between the two names might lead to public confusion, and it has thanked the new foundation for graciously agreeing to change its name. -- Anglican Journal

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The bridge is out (temporarily)

The Bridgeway Foundation, based in Cambridge, Ontario, has announced that it has suspended payment of its previously announced grants for the 2009 fiscal year and will not be making any new grants in 2009. It hopes to fulfill its previously announced 2009 grants in 2010. The foundation noted that the economic downturn has negatively affected its investments more than had been expected. The foundation was established in 1987 by Christians Reg and Carol Petersen to "support non-profit organizations that bring transformation to communities around the world."

Wanted: A few good teens

The National House of Prayer is looking for 30 high school students aged 14 - 18 to attend its CampFire training retreat at its Ottawa headquarters June 28 - July 4. Participants will participate in intensive prayer, worship and learning, as well as street outreach, park events, tours, hikes, swimming and sports. Application information is available on NHOP's website.

More than a medical matter

Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) president Bruce J. Clemenger, general legal counsel Don Hutchinson and associate legal counsel Faye Sonier were in the Supreme Court of Canada April 24, intervening in defence of the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act in order to retain potential criminal penalties for undesirable behaviour in regard to assisted human reproduction. The government of Quebec argued that the federal act is unconstitutional since health care is a provincial jurisdiction. The nine Supreme Court justices reserved their decision on the matter.

Gather ye Rosebuds while you May

The Rosebud Theatre's spring season features the play Lettice & Lovage, which addresses the contemporary issue of what to when you are fired. The play runs until May 16. The highly successful Christian-based Alberta theatre is in its 24th season.

Give us the shirt off your back!

Fifteen thousands pieces of clothing were donated to the Salvation Army following this year's Sun Run, an annual marathon sponsored by the Vancouver Sun to raise money for charities. Local Salvation Army leaders had noticed that the thousands of participants often discard extra layers of clothing just before the race, so they asked the participants to wear better quality, non.tattered jackets, shirts and other clothing to the starting line and then donate them to the Salvation Army. This year's race took place April 19 and featured 59,179 runners.

April 30/2009