Family says Edmonton paramedic killed while fighting in Ukraine
CBC
An Edmonton man who volunteered to fight in the war in Ukraine has died, his family tells CBC News.
It's believed Josh Mayers, 34, was killed on Nov. 10 near Bakhmut, a city in the country's east.
His wife, Cathryn Unverricht, said a member of Mayers' team told her that he was digging a trench when he was killed in a drone strike.
Fighting is ongoing near Bakhmut, and Unverricht said Mayers' body has yet to be retrieved. She said a member of his team provided the family with visual confirmation.
Global Affairs Canada tells CBC News that it is aware of an incident involving a Canadian in Ukraine but could not provide further details due to privacy concerns. It has not confirmed Mayers' death.
The department said it is aware of nine Canadians who have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion in 2022.
Unverricht describes Mayers as someone with a really big heart.
"Whenever anything happened or whenever anyone was upset, he was always the first one there, making everything better, offering solutions and just doing anything he could to help," she said.
The pair were together for eight years and had been married for only 14 months.
Mayers worked as a paramedic with Alberta Health Services (AHS) for nearly 10 years and as a primary care paramedic in rural Alberta before then.
Mother Janet Penner said Mayers' focus was on others.
"I know he had considered emergency medicine. He was all about caring for people. That was always Josh," she said.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and our condolences go out to their family and friends during this difficult time," reads a statement from AHS to CBC News.
"We have offered supports and resources to those at AHS who are impacted by this loss."
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
An advocate for New Brunswick patients suffering from unusual neurological symptoms is calling for the retraction of a recent scientific report that found no evidence of a mystery brain disease in the province.
Manitoba declined to follow through on urgent plans outlined in provincial documents to conduct an external review of wildfire preparedness after the NDP took power in 2023.
Smoke from Saskatchewan's wildfires may have largely dissipated for now, but researchers say the effects on people's health can linger.
Everet "Chase" Sayer says singing has always been a part of his life.
The Alberta premier's announcement of her intent to restore local decision making to public health facilities is highlighting a philosophical divide in how to best manage the province's stretched health budget.
A flurry of "distraction thefts" in Burnaby, B.C., have led police to renew warnings to seniors about the specific type of crime happening around the Lower Mainland.
There's hope for owners of three vacant Hamilton houses who want to tear them down.
Some Amherstburg residents are calling for more public access to the much beloved Bois Blanc [Boblo] Island: a local spot that holds memories of first dates, family outings at the old amusement park and heritage sites of historic significance.
"Did you kill Lilly and Jack?"
Toronto residents should brace for a stretch of very hot weather early next week.
A new base for paramedics in the western P.E.I. community of O'Leary has finally risen from the ashes after an electrical fire claimed the original building nearly two years ago.
Yellowknife resident Kim Harrower is a regular at the city's Willow Flats area, where she walks and listens to the birds in the morning. She says the wetland area there is good bird habitat, and it brings the community together.
As a former top Finance Department official, Susan Peterson played a key role years ago in creating the stable Canada Pension Plan that we see today. But even she was surprised by the numbers.