'Klutzy The Clown' In Trouble Again After Breaching Bail Conditions

Story out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

The home of a Cape Breton children's performer accused of sex crimes went up in flames Monday in a suspicious fire, two days after his arrest on charges he breached bail conditions.

Dale Rancourt, also known as Klutzy the Clown, remains in jail following his arrest Saturday.

The 51-year-old appeared in Sydney provincial court Tuesday but his case was set over until Wednesday. The prosecution opposes bail and Rancourt's defence lawyer said he needed more time to put together a new bail plan.

In mid-October Rancourt was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and two counts of sexual interference.

Now he faces four breach charges related to allegations he was in an area with children under the age of 18 and didn't keep the peace and be of good behaviour, in violation of his bail conditions.

Early Monday morning Rancourt's home and business on the Gabarus Highway caught fire.

The Registry of Joint Stock Companies confirms that 5808 Gabarus Highway near the community of French Road is the base of operations for Rancourt's business.

The fire is considered suspicious and the fire marshal's office along with the police are investigating. Cont.

Story from - CBC News

'Klutzy The Clown' Charged With Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference Of 15-Year-Old Girl

Story out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

A Cape Breton man, better known as Klutzy the Clown, is facing four sex-related charges involving a minor.

Dale Rancourt, 51, has been charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and one count of sexual exploitation after he was arrested on Sunday. Cape Breton Regional police said the alleged offences took place between July 15 and Oct. 16.

According to court documents, the alleged female victim is 15 years old. Police have not revealed certain details related to the case and the alleged victim due to a publication ban.

Rancourt is a well-known children’s entertainer in Cape Breton who has performed as Klutzy the Clown at birthday parties, children’s events and charitable fundraisers for more than two decades. He made a number of media appearances last week, including on CTV Atlantic and CTV News Channel, defending his profession after a series of reports of “creepy clowns” terrorizing strangers in costume made headlines in North America. Cont.

Story from - CTV News

Clown Gangs Terrorizing Nova Scotia

Story out of Glace Bay/Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

It was a scene torn from the pages of a Stephen King novel. A woman driving home from work in Glace Bay, N.S. spots someone lurking by the roadside. Her headlights reveal a stranger dressed as a clown standing in the shadows. As she brings the car to a stop, the figure walks into the middle of the road, blocking her path.

“Once I stopped, he started running towards my car. So I started backing up,” Michelle Doubleday told CTV Atlantic. “He kept going faster and faster.”

The incident frightened her so much that she sped off in the opposite direction. She’s still not completely at ease behind the wheel when she's driving alone at night.

On the same night, another Glace Bay woman reportedly turned down a side street to avoid a person wearing a mask. When she rounded the corner, she was surrounded by as many as five clown-costumed characters in the middle of the street.

Cape Breton Regional Police say bizarre confrontations with sinister-looking clowns are on the rise. Three similar incidents were reported last week, but no charges have been laid.

So-called “creepy clown” encounters are making people nervous across the U.S. as well – with reports in at least 16 states.

Hoax or not, victims like Doubleday says the gangs of clowns are no laughing matter.

“I could have hit somebody,” she said. “I could have had my kids in the car. I couldn’t see where I was going when I was backing up.” Cont. (Video)

Story from - CTV News

"Get That Fa**ot Singer Off The Stage" - Musician Told To Leave After Suffering Homophobic Abuse At Canadian Legion

Story out of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

A musician says a kiss on the cheek of his same-sex partner at a Royal Canadian Legion in Halifax is to blame for somebody yelling a homophobic slur and the performance being cut short.

Bernie Doucette said he set up his equipment at the Almon Street Legion on Sunday afternoon, and then he and his partner of 20 years went outside to smoke a cigarette.

Doucette said he noticed a man in a blue coat across the street who was "staring at us intently," but he decided to ignore it. He said he gave his partner a kiss on the cheek and went in alone to start the show. Midway through the second set, Doucette said he noticed the man in the blue coat going from person to person in the audience, pointing at him.

That was when he said he heard somebody yell: "Get that faggot singer off the stage."

Doucette said the bartender came over and told him to stop playing. When he asked for an explanation, the bartender said the audience was complaining that his set — which included covers of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan songs — sounded like "funeral music," Doucette said.

He said he told the bartender "people are tapping their toes, and singing along," but the bartender said "just take the money. We'll pay you in full. Just take the money and leave."

Doucette said he had played gigs at that location before and never had a problem. "I felt safe." He said he feels connected to the military. His uncle fought in the Second World War, his brother also enlisted and his nephew served in Afghanistan.

Doucette said this experience has shaken his willingness to perform again — at a Legion, or anywhere.

"When you get on stage you take on a persona so that nothing bothers you," he said. "You have to, because if you let it get to you — because it will — then you can't do your job. That is bullet-proof. That's Teflon. That's six feet thick. Once the glass is broken, it's broken. You can glue it together all you want. You're still going to see the cracks." (Well, he's definitely a song writer.) Cont.

Story from - CBC News
Image from - Tim Evanson - Wikimedia Commons

"Trump Bump" - Americans Flock To Cape Breton For Trump-Free Paradise

A Nova Scotia island being touted as a haven for Americans who fear the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency has seen more than a threefold increase in traffic to its tourism website this year, translating into around 3,500 bookings.

According to Nova Scotia Tourism, Cape Breton hotels and B&Bs sold 30 per cent more overnight stays in rooms this April compared to the same month last year.

Mary Tulle, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, says since the “Trump Bump,” the tourism association needs two full-time staff members just to keep up with online and phone inquiries.

Cape Breton was thrust into the spotlight in February when local radio host Rob Calabrese set up a website pitching the region as a charming, Trump-free paradise that welcomed visitors from the other side of the border rather than putting up walls.

The “Cape Breton if Donald Trump Wins” site went viral and set off an international media frenzy, including a video report aired by cable news giant CNN.

Tulle says the unprecedented interest in Cape Breton has attracted around 1.5 million page views on the website, about a third of the clicks from curious Americans, and generated the sort of online attention she estimates would be worth $10 million in Google ad buys. Cont.

Story from - Global News
Image from - Tango7174 - Wikimedia Commons

Veterans Affairs In Ottawa Make Excuses For Not Allowing 94-Year-Old Veteran Community Care

Story out of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

A family's bid to gain entry to a veterans' hospital for a 94-year-old man decorated for his service in the Second World War has been rejected.

The son of Petter Blindheim said in an email statement Monday night that his father's application to receive nursing home care in one of 13 empty beds at the federally funded Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial hospital in Halifax has been turned down.

Veterans Affairs initially refused to admit Blindheim because his service was as a member of the Royal Norwegian Navy, saying veterans of that force were "resistance" fighters rather than veterans of Allied forces.

"My family is shocked. We thought we made a strong case for Camp Hill and thought our father does have a specialized need," said Blendheim in the email. "My family will keep fighting. We will not give up hope." Cont.

Story from - Huffington Post/CP

Halifax Theater Changes Shrek Musical After Use Of The Term "Tranny"

Story out of Halifax Nova Scotia:

Halifax's leading theatre company says it has altered its production of Shrek: The Musical in response to a transgender person who walked out of a recent performance to protest an offensive word.

Ky Grey said he walked out of Neptune Theatre's opening night performance of the musical after the character of the Big Bad Wolf used the word "Tranny."

He said he later complained to the theatre management and eventually met with general manager Amy Melmock to discuss his concerns this week.

Contacted about Grey's complaint, Neptune Theatre's director of sales and marketing, Jennie King, provided an emailed statement expressing its "active support" for the LGBTQ community.

An avid theatre fan, Grey said he understands the company can only go so far with the material.

"I understand that they have limits to what they can change based on the rights that they do or do not have to the show," he said. Cont.

Story from - CTV News
Image from - Ged Carol - Flickr
cc 2.0

Hockey Game Ends In Tie After 5 And Half Hours Of Play

Story out of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

Nova Scotia hockey officials say they have never seen anything like it: A provincial championship game still undecided after 10 periods.

And so, after what is thought to be the longest hockey game in Nova Scotia history, the province's female championship was declared a 1-1 tie on Saturday, and co-champions declared.

"The game went on, and went on, and went on," said Peter Twohig, regional director for females for Hockey Nova Scotia. "I've seen a lot of triple overtime games, but I've never seen anything like I watched today."

The game was for the Peewee AA championship, involving the best young girls in the province. The TASA Ducks of Tantallon, N.S., squared off against the Pictou County Selects.

The game started at 11 a.m., and was finally called at about 3:30 p.m., after the seventh overtime period.

"It was amazing to me to watch throughout overtime. They were playing with heart and determination. They're really exceptional athletes," said Twohig.

There had been no scoring since the second period. The girls were given oranges and other sustenance to keep them going through each 15-minute period, but eventually parents and coaches began to worry about the girls' safety, Twohig said. Cont.

Story from - CTV News

Minor League Hockey Linesman Accused Of Causing On-Ice Brawl

Story out of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

A minor hockey coach in Halifax is accusing a game official of taunting his team and later attacking a player during a recent game in P.E.I. that went horribly awry, prompting an RCMP investigation.

Mark Whidden, head coach of the Midget C Chebucto Chill, says he and three of his teenaged players have since been suspended indefinitely, pending completion of the Mounties' probe and a subsequent review by Hockey Nova Scotia.

One of the two linesmen was standing next to the Halifax team's bench when he made a series of sarcastic comments about the team's play, the coach says.

When one player told the linesman to "shut up," Whidden said he knew there would be trouble. Cont.

Story from - CTV News

19-Year-Old Folk Singer Killed By Coyotes While Hiking

Story out of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia:

Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow, who went by the stage name Taylor Mitchell, died overnight at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. She had been on tour in the Maritimes.

Mitchell was hiking on the Skyline Trail when she was attacked Tuesday afternoon. She was taken to the hospital in Cheticamp, then airlifted to Halifax in critical condition.

Park officials said Mitchell was walking the trail alone. They said other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes and call 911. Cont.

Story from - CBC News
Image from - Wikimedia Commons

Bed Bugs Found On Halifax Bus Forces Man To Strip Down In Snow

Story out of Halifax, Nova Scotia:

A commuter has discovered a bed bug on a city transit bus, in what an expert says is a disturbing reminder of the potential range of the hardy, hitchhiking insects.

Jason Johnson took a photo of the bug Monday on a Halifax Transit bus - then bolted home, stripped down in the snow and put his clothes in bags, fearing they might be contaminated with the biting, blood-loving pests or their eggs.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Stairs confirmed Halifax Transit was following up on a complaint of a bed bug on one of its buses. She said options could include fumigating the bus in question, adding that the vehicles are cleaned at the end of every day. Cont.

Story from - CTV News
Image - Wikimedia Commons
cc 3.0

Groom Saves Own Wedding After Heavy Snow Fall

Story out of Antigonish, Nova Scotia:

A couple in Antigonish County had a very white wedding on Saturday when a snowstorm temporarily trapped people at their wedding reception.

Dinner started at 6 p.m. and by 9 p.m., about 60 centimetres of snow had fallen outside. The idea of having everyone stay overnight at the centre was pondered, but ultimately decided against.

Some guests got their cars stuck in the parking lot while trying to leave, while others made it to the road only to get stuck there.

Even though it was his own party, Landry went home, got his pickup truck — which has a plow — and started plowing out his wedding guests.

He cleared the parking lot and then plowed part of the road to the highway.

Landry spent all night driving people home in his truck. At around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, he was finally reunited with his new wife.

Despite all that work, not everyone got home. The two DJs hired for the reception stayed the night in the community centre. Cont.

Story from - CBC News
Image from - Pixabay