Anglais

Officer shot in Niagara had ‘bad blood with the world,’ brother says

Published

5 années ago

décembre 3, 2018

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A man whose trigger rage is described as a “red mist”.

Who once punched a sibling in the face so hard that the youth was knocked out cold, according to his brother.

Who began using steroids as a teenager — synthetic drugs linked to aggression and uncontrollable wrath, his brother said.

Who strikes fear in the heart of family members.

Father of 18-year-old triplets who must now come to grips with the fact their police officer dad has been shot full of bullets — at least five, his life saved by a Kevlar vest.

Const. Nathan Parker, a veteran with 28 years on the force, was the “victim” in Thursday’s cop-on-cop shooting between officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service.

Det.-Sgt. Shane Donovan, identified as the cop who fired his police-issue gun, has been designated the only “subject officer” by the Special Investigations Unit, arising from a violent confrontation, purportedly a fist fight, during what should have been a routine followup — reconstructing the scene — of an impaired driving collision 17 days earlier, down a rural road about 22 kilometres south of St. Catharines.

“Nathan Parker is no innocent person,” his brother Phillip Parker told the Star on Sunday. “I can tell you … that if he got shot, it’s because he made the other person fear for his life. He’s a frightening person.”

In a phone interview and email communications, Phillip Parker recounted a lifetime of bullying, threats and physical violence at the hands of his three-years-older brother, leading ultimately to complete estrangement in 2012. “I won’t let him anywhere near me and, more importantly, I won’t let him anywhere near my daughter.”

Philip Parker writes: “As a family member, I am supposed to be shocked and filled with emotion, but my first reaction is, ‘What took so long?’

“My brother is a violent man. Niagara should have fired him years ago. Maybe the other officer will face real consequences. Then again, maybe he was defending himself from my brother and his uncontrollable rage. I was on the receiving end of that rage while growing up, so my assumption leans toward self-defence.”

One of the final episodes in which the brothers had contact was when Philip Parker’s ex-wife tried to arrange a get-together with their kids. Nathan Parker responded with increasingly hostile emails accusing his sister-in-law of maintaining a friendship with his own “f—ing” ex-wife. The Star has seen some of those emails.

“I’m the one who deserves an apology and bring up my job again Phillip oh ya … you don’t have one right. Have a nice life … because obviously you think more of someone who abandoned me because she listened to other people … siding with people outside your family that’s integrity is it …”

Nathan Parker accused his ex’s sister of “badmouthing” him around Niagara region, “which even interfered with my job.”

Phillip Parker countered: “Is your reaction to rage until you suffer an aneurysm? Anger hurts only you and the kids … Do not forget, I grew up with your bullying, so I do possess some insight. Bellowing and impulsive aggression mark your pattern of behaviour. Roaring and screaming works for drill instructors, but it alienates and terrifies your family.”

To the Star, Phillip expressed regret that he hadn’t brought his concerns about his brother’s anger management issues to the police department. But Niagara Regional has been well aware of Nathan Parker’s history, which includes four disciplinary hearings involving aggressive behaviour and unreasonable use of force. In all cases he was either convicted by a tribunal or pleaded guilty. Collectively, the constable has been docked 226 hours pay since 2012. At one point, he was also ordered to take retraining and anger management counselling.

Phillip Parker suggests “it is less expensive to set legal precedent and fight the police union than it is to keep Nathan Parker on the payroll. That is my ignorance, suspicious opinion, since I have no law enforcement experience. But how else can someone explain my brother not getting fired after (a) cyclist was picked up and thrown to the pavement on his bike, with his feet still clipped into the pedals? Appalling and self-evident. Niagara Regional Police is in dire need of fresh leadership.”

In fact, while this is believed to be the first allegedly deliberate cop-on-cop shooting, possibly in the entire country, a Niagara Regional officer was killed by a fellow cop during training at the police firing range in 1993. And last year, a constable pleaded guilty to pointing an unloaded police rifle at a fellow officer’s chest in their detachment in what was apparently a jest. She pleaded guilty and was given an absolute discharge.

Nathan Parker is reported in “stable” condition in hospital. The Toronto Sun’s Sam Pazzano has reported that the officer who fired emptied most of his 15-bullet magazine at his fellow-cop during the “altercation,” as described by the SIU, and that Parker had a portion of his nose blown off.

The SIU has designated 13 cops (including Parker) as witness officers, which, as an aside, begs the question: Why was there practically an entire platoon at the scene?

Two firearms, belonging to Parker and Donovan, were retrieved by SIU investigators. As of Sunday, no charges had been laid.

But Phillip Parker asks a crucial question: Why was Parker, given his troubling history, still a cop, authorized to carry a weapon?

In Ontario, under the Police Services Act, tribunals can be held at the behest of a police chief but the chief cannot unilaterally dismiss an officer unless he or she has been convicted of a criminal offence.

“The chief is removed from the hearing to make it fair and impartial,” explains Cliff Priest, president of the Niagara Regional Police Association. “The chief has to follow the Police Services Act, which means there has to be a hearing. The tribunal decides on the resolution. At times, it can result in dismissal and (the punishment) can be accumulative.”

Yet the Act itself is deeply flawed, says Alok Mukherjee, former chair of the Toronto police board.

“A police chief can recommend dismissal to the board, based on severity of the offence (under the PSA). The problem is that doesn’t happen as frequently as one would hope.’’

One reason for that is because hearings are conducted by senior officers — who aren’t trained judges or lawyers — from within the same police force of the defendant. While there are distinct “principles” to ascertain guilt and consequences, tribunal officiators tend to “apply low standards,” says Mukherjee.

Changing the Police Act to address that concern “has been a topic of conversation”, Mukherjee continues. “This system of imposing discipline is so out of date and so difficult to apply that it needs to be changed. It is a very unsatisfactory system.”

Mukherjee further asserts that the SIU — which investigates all incidents involving police that result in death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault — “tends to frame its investigations too narrowly.

“The SIU does have the ability to cast its net wide, take a broader view in justice oversight, but it doesn’t do that.”

Mukherjee can’t speak specifically to this cop-on-cop shooting. But he echoes the concern of Phillip Parker. “If there was a history with this officer, why was he able to get away with it for so long?”

Phillip Parker doesn’t much care what happens to his brother now. “My brother had bad blood with the world.

“You report that monster was in critical condition. I feel concern for his three kids.”

Rosie DiManno is a columnist based in Toronto covering sports and current affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @rdimanno

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

Published

3 années ago

août 10, 2021

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline.

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors.

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity.

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement.

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level.

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet.

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.