Canadian wine industry in 'profound mourning' after death of Niagara's Paul Pender
CBC
As Canada's wine world comes to grips with the loss of Niagara winemaker Paul Pender, he's being remembered as someone who worked to elevate the domestic industry, without being pretentious and with a willingness to help up-and-comers.
"He was a mentor to many of the young winemakers in Niagara today, especially those who wanted to learn about organic farming," said wine writer Rick Vansickle, publisher of WinesinNiagara.com.
"He was the kind of guy that spent a lot of time at his own winery, but almost an equal amount of time helping other people around the region… The greater Niagara community is in profound mourning."
Pender, 54, is remembered through his work at Tawse and Redstone wineries. He leaves behind several children and grandchildren, and his wife Allison Findlay, the winemaker at local winery Flat Rock Cellars.
Pender died Feb. 3 after an encounter at his cottage in Selkirk, Ont., near Lake Erie.
Police have released few details of what happened, but have charged Hamilton resident Bradley House, 31, with second-degree murder.
Det.-Insp. Shawn Glassford of Ontario Provincial Police said Monday there were two crime scenes, and Pender and the accused did not know each other. On Tuesday, Glassford confirmed to CBC that police are not looking for any further suspects.
House made a court appearance by telephone on Tuesday, speaking little beyond acknowledging his presence. His lawyer, Beth Bromberg, told the court she had not yet received disclosure and asked the case to be put off for two weeks.
Vansickle said he met the winemaker about 17 years ago when Pender started at Tawse, in Vineland, Ont. He said Pender's interest in organic and biodynamic farming made him a pioneer in the region.
"Nobody was doing that kind of farming back then, and he made it a thing," said Vansickle. "He became the beacon that everybody looked to for organic farming in Niagara, at least for grapes."
The winery quickly rose to prominence, winning multiple awards under Pender's watch.
"He loved Pinot, and he loved Chardonnay and he loved Riesling," said Vansickle. "He was a student of Burgundy wines… and he tried to get that kind of soulfulness out of the wines they made at Tawse, and really achieved it. They are incredible wines and well noted by critics around the world. He was known."
Vansickle said Pender's talent, combined with his unassuming manner, made him a well-loved fixture in the region.
"He would show up at a grand tasting in a plaid shirt and his worn-out Blundstones [footwear]," said Vansickle. "He had so much more to give."
The amount of money it takes for people to earn a living wage has increased across the province, according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
The new owner of Ontario steelmaker Stelco says his company "will not disappoint the people of Hamilton and Nanticoke," where the business's major facilities are based.
A Winnipegger is warning others about an intricate scam she says she almost fell for.
Fort William First Nation is opposing a planned redevelopment of the Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) 117 year old Kakabeka Falls Generating Station, which is located in their traditional territory.
A building that sits at the corner of Sussex Street and Brunswick Avenue has had many lives over the last century — being a church, a school and offices. Now it's set to become housing, at a time when the city sorely needs it.
A Waterloo, Ont., elementary school principal will be sentenced in the new year after pleading guilty to child sexual exploitation charges following a joint investigation that involved the London, Toronto and Waterloo police services.
Students at UPEI have let their student union know what they want from the province this fiscal year, and those priorities are reflected in a 2024-2025 advocacy document brought to the legislature on Wednesday.
Larger communities in the N.W.T. will soon see a boost in their territorial funding to maintain infrastructure and deliver services — like water and waste management — but the increase still falls short of what communities need.
The toxic drug crisis has taken more than 47,000 lives in Canada since 2016 and the synthetic opioid fentanyl has become a household name. But now, what's believed to be an even more potent class of synthetic drugs is showing up in drug busts across the country: nitazenes.
The Liberal government and the NDP have agreed to introduce a two-month GST vacation on certain items before the holiday season, Radio-Canada has learned.
Veterinarians are warning Londoners to make sure their dogs are vaccinated and keeping clean after a deadly virus outbreak was declared in London this week.