Honens reverses course, re-invites Russians to piano competition
The Honens International Piano Competition reversed a ban on Russian competitors Thursday.
Last week, the Calgary-based organization said that Russian competitors were out of the 2022 event due to the invasion of Ukraine.
However, in a statement issued Thursday on Twitter, Honens said that in retrospect, a ban would only punish musicians who neither played a role in nor support the Russian government's action, so Russian pianists are once again invited to perform in the event.
The exception is anyone who expresses support for the invasion, which will result in the invitation being withdrawn.
"Since that decision, we have seen and heard so much," the statement said. "Alongside the horrific images from across Ukraine, we've seen thousands of Russians arrested for passive protests against the invasion, and a steady exodus of citizens from Russia.
"Accompanying those images, we've also heard from many important voices across the global musical community, including our own past Laureates, and current competitors who strongly believe that this decision negatively impacts those who neither played a role in nor support the Russian government's current actions."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I would have died': Minister LeBlanc meets man behind life-saving stem cell transplant
A stem cell transplant will forever connect Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc with a young man from Germany. The minister was diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2019.
These natural wonders in Canada were lost to Fiona
An iconic sandstone rock formation in P.E.I and a striking solitary tree in Nova Scotia are among the natural landmarks destroyed by post-tropical storm Fiona.
Here's how much more Thanksgiving dinner will cost Canadians this year
Thanksgiving dinner will come with a hefty price tag for Canadians this year, according to data compiled by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab.
Bam! NASA spacecraft crashes into asteroid in defence test
A NASA spacecraft rammed an asteroid at blistering speed Monday in an unprecedented dress rehearsal for the day a killer rock menaces Earth. The galactic grand slam occurred at a harmless asteroid 11.3 million kilometres away.
Here's what the end of border restrictions means for the Blue Jays
The end of Canadian COVID-19 border restrictions means unvaccinated baseball players could be facing the Toronto Blue Jays at home in the playoffs.
Poilievre denounces Diagolon 'losers' over threat of sexual assault against his wife, RCMP 'reviewing'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he has asked the RCMP to look into 'disgusting' comments made by the founder of a far-right group about sexually assaulting his wife.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency raises alarm as spotted lanternfly pest nears border
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is asking Canadians to keep an eye out for an invasive bug that could spell disaster for the country's wineries and fruit growers.
Orillia OPP lay first-degree murder charge in 'historic' case going back over 10 years
Orillia OPP has laid a charge of first-degree murder in the death of a man who was first reported missing more than 12 years ago.
Port aux Basques woman swept up in Fiona storm surge shares her survival story
A woman from Port aux Basques, N.L., is sharing her story of survival after she was swept under a Jeep and had to be rescued as post-tropical storm Fiona battered the small coastal town.
Edmonton
-
Cyclist dies after being hit by LRT train in northeast Edmonton
A man in his 30s was killed Monday afternoon when he was hit by an LRT train at the Clareview Station in northeast Edmonton.
-
Edmonton considering drug-checking program to reduce poisoning deaths
A harm-reduction strategy that sees illegal street drugs tested for deadly substances before being used is under consideration in Edmonton.
-
Officer slashed with knife by man who ran through airport security: RCMP
Charges have now been laid after a man barged through security at the Edmonton International Airport on Saturday.
Vancouver
-
Shows cancelled due to safety concerns at theatre near Vancouver encampment
A local funk band says a venue in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside cancelled the booking for an upcoming show because the sidewalk outside has become part of the Hastings Street homeless encampment.
-
'Death by a thousand cuts': Vancouver business community urges slashing of red tape
Small business owners says staff shortages and vandalism aren't the only things making it hard to operate in Vancouver.
-
ABC drops school board candidate over charitable foundation's troubles with CRA
A Better City has dropped one of its candidates for school board after learning a foundation he is a director of recently had its charitable status revoked by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Atlantic
-
Military deploys to N.S., P.E.I., N.L. to help with Fiona clean up
Hundreds of Canadian military personnel are deploying to communities in Atlantic Canada affected by post-tropical storm Fiona to assist with clean-up efforts, the commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic said in a news conference Monday.
-
Most P.E.I. residents without power two days after Fiona
Tens of thousands of Islanders are still without power two days after Fiona battered Prince Edward Island.
-
Missing 81-year-old N.S. man believed swept out to sea during Fiona
An 81-year-old man reported missing in Lower Prospect, N.S. is believed to have been swept out to the ocean during post-tropical storm Fiona, according to the RCMP.
Vancouver Island
-
Greater Victoria woman sentenced to 5.5 years for luring, sexually assaulting 15-year-old boy
A Greater Victoria woman has been sentenced to five and a half years behind bars for luring and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The incidents occurred in April 2020, when "Ms. P." and her friend encountered a group of boys from their neighbourhood who asked the women to provide them with alcohol in exchange for some cannabis.
-
School board lacked authority to suspend trustees over alleged bullying: B.C. judge
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled the Greater Victoria School Board lacked the authority to censure and suspend two elected trustees over allegations of harassment and bullying. Justice Briana Hardwick says in a written decision that the trustees argued the board breached procedural fairness by relying on events other than the findings of investigative reports into the complaints.
-
This coastal B.C. community is cracking down on short-term rentals
A resort municipality on Vancouver Island is cracking down on the proliferation of short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods as it grapples with a housing shortage.
Toronto
-
Jupiter will be at its brightest Monday. This is how to see it in Ontario.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is going to be the closest it has been to Earth in almost 60 years Monday night.
-
Police arrest 27-year-old man accused of placing camera in women's bathroom at Tim Hortons
A 27-year-old man has been charged after police said they found a hidden camera inside the women’s bathroom at a Tim Hortons.
-
More than 170K Ontario patients lost family doctors in first 6 months of pandemic, study finds
More than 170,000 patients in Ontario lost their family doctors in the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study has found.
Montreal
-
Man accused of killing his spouse, 2 children in Montreal-area triple homicide
Longueuil police (SPAL) say a man has been charged in the deaths of his spouse and their two children, aged five and two, in what they describe as a triple homicide and arson investigation on Montreal's South Shore.
-
QS candidate steps down after video shows her removing PQ flyer from mailbox
A candidate for Quebec solidaire (QS) is stepping down after videos surfaced online showing her removing a rival's flyer from a homeowner's mailbox while campaigning.
-
Devils spoil Slafkovsky's Montreal debut with 2-1 pre-season win
The Montreal Canadiens opened their NHL pre-season campaign at home, but allowed two unanswered goals and fell to the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Monday.
Ottawa
-
Poilievre denounces Diagolon 'losers' over threat of sexual assault against his wife, RCMP 'reviewing'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he has asked the RCMP to look into 'disgusting' comments made by the founder of a far-right group about sexually assaulting his wife.
-
The strongest storm to ever hit the east coast wasn't strong enough to stop a wedding
A Halifax couple tied the knot by candlelight after post-tropical storm Fiona made landfall and cut the power the night before the big day.
-
Teen dead, three others injured in west Quebec street racing crash
A teenage girl is dead and three other young people are seriously injured after a street racing crash in west Quebec on Sunday.
Kitchener
-
City of Waterloo votes in favour of security allowance for councillors
The City of Waterloo is taking an extra step to keep city councillors safe by voting in favour of giving themselves a monthly allowance for home security.
-
Multiple code reds reported in Waterloo region Monday
Waterloo regional hospitals dealt with ambulance gridlock Monday, as paramedics reported an increase in Code Red instances.
-
OPP close Highway 6 in both directions near Mount Forest
The Ontario Provincial Police said they have closed Highway 6 near Mount Forest on Monday evening for a collision.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon Meewasin byelection: NDP claims victory as Teed takes commanding share of vote
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party candidate Nathaniel Teed had a strong lead once the count got underway in the Saskatoon Meewasin byelection — a trend that never faltered as the night wore on.
-
Saskatoon COVID-19 wastewater researchers see 2nd-highest levels of pandemic
The University of Saskatchewan research team monitoring Sasktoon's wastewater for signs of COVID-19 observed the second-highest levels of the pandemic during its most recent round of sampling.
-
Saskatoon police charge 2nd person with murder in woman's disappearance
A second person stands accused of murder in a missing Saskatoon woman's presumed death.
Northern Ontario
-
New technology helping plan the forests of the future in Sudbury
Sudbury's celebrated re-greening efforts are continuing to inspire Canadian researchers.
-
Five people fined $55K for illegal moose hunt in northern Ontario
A 32-month investigation into illegal moose hunting near Temiskaming, Ont., has ended in convictions for five people, $44,000 in fines and $11,000 in victim surcharges.
-
North Bay police, other agencies, create safe space for young victims of crime
The North Bay Police Service and several other agencies are providing youth a safe, trauma-informed place for them and their families when they’re affected by crime.
Winnipeg
-
'We are truly sorry': Leaders, health officials acknowledge Indigenous-specific racism in northern Manitoba's health-care system
Indigenous leaders and northern health officials in Manitoba say Indigenous people continue to face racism in the health-care system, and have signed a declaration committing to eliminate it.
-
Winnipeg mayoral candidate resurrects pledge to open Portage and Main
A Winnipeg mayoral candidate is pledging to bring down the barriers at Portage and Main, despite the results of a plebiscite held on the issue four years ago.
-
'I was shaking': Group says Winnipeg restaurant was ageist after asking for pre-payment
A group of young adults is raising concerns over an incident at a Winnipeg restaurant they feel was ageist.
Regina
-
'A huge need for housing': Advocates call for winter shelter plan for Regina's houseless population
It’s been almost a year after the events surrounding Camp Hope brought the struggles of Regina’s houseless population to the forefront. However, many in the Queen City are once again struggling to find shelter.
-
Riders' Clark and Williams to make return against Bombers
Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman Dan Clark and wide receiver Duke Williams are expected to return to the lineup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday.
-
Regina plans for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Friday Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Events in and around Regina are planned to commemorate the second iteration of the national day of remembrance and reflection.