Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 19, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A5 winnipegfreepress. com TOP NEWS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012 A 5 O TTAWA - A new research project to test the impact on lakes and rivers of one of the fastest- growing substances in the marketplace is on hold while the Experimental Lakes Area program sits in limbo. The news is among the latest developments as the lobby effort to save the ELA from government cuts continues. The Manitoba and Ontario governments are joining forces to try to convince Ottawa to change its decision, or at least delay the cuts, which would potentially close down the only research facility in the world performing experiments on entire lakes. The ELA is a series of 58 lakes near Kenora, along with 40,000 square feet of federally owned lab space and housing facilities for researchers. Last year, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada granted Trent University $ 750,000 to do a three- year study on the impact of nanosilver on an entire lake. Nanosilver is a tiny particle found in more than 300 consumer products, including clothing, bug spray, kids' toys and bandages. Chris Metcalfe, director of the Institute for Freshwater Science at Trent, said nanosilver will be in more than 1,000 products within a few years. Nanosilver has antibacterial and anti- odour qualities, which is why they are added to things such as athletic gear, socks and underwear. Early lab tests found they have a negative impact on natural bacteria, fish, shellfish and algae. Metcalfe said the NSERC grant was to take the lab tests out onto a small lake in the ELA to find out what the impact is on an entire aquatic system. " You can't do that kind of work in the lab," he said. He said the research on nanosilver has the potential to have the same impact on consumer products as recent ELA research that changed policies to remove phosphorus from soaps. " Trillions of dollars are going to be made on nanomaterial products, so let's take a step back and spend a few dollars on seeing what the environmental impacts will be." Last month, the federal government announced it is pulling its $ 2 million in funding for the ELA next April. A spokeswoman for Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield said the department is " currently exploring options regarding the transfer of the site and hope to complete the transfer by the spring of 2013." " Our goal is to make sure that important work can continue to be conducted at the site by another party that will benefit from it," said Erin Filliter. However, Diane Orihel, founder of Save ELA, said the government hasn't responded to any of the letters or concerns raised by those trying to save the ELA. " As of today, we have not received any response from the government," she said. Orihel said the March 2013 deadline is " completely unrealistic." The Manitoba and Ontario governments agree. On June 5, Manitoba Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh and Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley wrote jointly to Ashfield and federal Environment Minister Peter Kent, urging them to delay the cancellation of ELA funds. Mackintosh and Bradley suggested five federal departments - Fisheries, Environment, Natural Resources, Health and Agriculture - jointly fund the program and that they form a committee with provinces and universities to develop a five- year research agenda for the site. Mackintosh would not say whether Manitoba is willing to put any money on the table to save the program. The ELA is located in Ontario but the scientists and the administrators who work for it are all based in Winnipeg. Asked several times, he would only say Manitoba's No. 1 goal is getting the decision either reversed entirely, or at least deferred for an extra year. mia. rabson@ freepress. mb. ca The man who died from injuries received in a fight Saturday afternoon was trying to help his brother, witnesses said. Winnipeg police would not name the victim but he was identified on Facebook as Marlin Gray, 36, of Swan Lake. Gray was visiting family in Winnipeg, at a Manitoba Housing complex in the Maples, at 1391 Fife St. There was a confrontation between two groups in an inner courtyard. " It happened all of a sudden; it was over so quick," a witness who asked not to be identified said. " He was trying to help his brother." The witness said Gray was attempting to calm the situation, lowering his arms to his side, when he was punched and collapsed, striking his head. " It was one shot and he went straight down and hit the concrete," the witness said. " There was blood coming from his mouth and he was twitching. It was bad." Gray was carried into his sister's unit, from where police were called. "( His sister) screamed, ' I'm calling the cops,' " the witness said. " Everyone scattered after that. No one hung around because the police were coming." On his Facebook page, Gray's wife, Melanie, posted that he died at 2: 30 a. m. Monday. " I just watched my husband take his very last breath," wrote Melanie Gray. Marlin Gray is Winnipeg's 16th homicide for 2012. At a Monday- morning news conference, police said the investigation is continuing and there have been no arrests. However, Melanie Gray posted that police told her they had three suspects in custody. The witness said Gray was attacked by a man who doesn't live in the complex, adding the attacker and his friends were frequent visitors. " Both ( Marlin Gray and his brother) are pretty standup guys who would obviously help each other out no matter what it was about," another witness said. Another complex resident said she was shocked by the killing, adding she considered the complex safe. " I just left at 12: 30 p. m. ( Saturday) and everything happened after that but I was surprised to hear about it when I got back," Shelley, who would not give her last name, said. Another resident said fights are common in the complex but no one has been seriously hurt before. " I was at work and my kids called me; there was a fight outside," a resident said. " I told them to close the doors and stay inside." Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen would not provide details of how the man died. Michalyshen said the death happened after there was a " physical assault," adding later drugs and alcohol may have been factors. Michalyshen said it appears the confrontation began inside one of the units and then spilled outside. " There may have been some weapons present during the altercation, however, I'm not aware that any weapon... was used during the assault," he said. aldo. santin@ freepress. mb. ca gabrielle. giroday@ freepress. mb. ca I N 1982, Dianna Evangeline was a 21- year- old waitress who decided to prove she had the right to work without enduring sexual harassment. She fought all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada to win her point. But the battle was costly both in the psychic scars that come when you're considered prey and in the enduring legacy of being a pioneer in a fight good girls didn't have. She broke off relations with her family, changed her last name and left the country. Monday morning, Evangeline celebrated her 51st birthday by speaking publicly about her battle for the first time. She told attendees at a national human rights conference her decision to file a sexual harassment claim with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission led to harassing phone calls, estrangement from friends and the understanding things had spiralled beyond her control. " I felt that I was 21 and washed up," she said Monday. " I had a good cry and then I decided to fight. It was never in my nature to walk away." Evangeline was a university student living on her own, paying the bills and supporting herself. She took on a waitressing job at the now- defunct Pharos restaurant. It was an ideal fit because she could schedule work around her classes. Soon after she started, the chef fondled her, looked her in the eyes and smiled. She went home, sickened. It happened again and she complained to her boss. She stopped wearing makeup at work, wondering if somehow the continuing abuse was her fault. " By going back, shift and shift, I knew it wasn't my fault but I felt that way regardless." After her complaint to the owner, the fondling stopped but the chef started deliberately ruining her orders. Her tips fell off. She complained again but was told she needed an attitude adjustment. Evangeline quit. In 1983, she filed the complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission against the company that owned Pharos. Her courage, and that of another waitress at the restaurant, eventually led to a 1989 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that sexual harassment in the workplace is a form of discrimination. She said when she testified she had to use words she'd " never said out loud" to describe the physical and verbal abuse. Evangeline was awarded damages but never collected. It wasn't about money, she said. It was the principle of changing something that was wrong and fighting for the women who couldn't quit. She said she has finally stepped into the spotlight because she once vowed if she lived long enough, she'd do something more for the human rights battle. She was greeted like a rock star at the conference, something that confounds her. It took a long time to get her life on track after the legal battles. She finished her degree but never got into a groove. She waitressed here and there. " The confidence and the bright, shiny future just disappeared." She now works as a financial analyst for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and just finished her certified management accountant designation. She also has two children, ages 18 and 20. When she disclosed what she calls her " footnote" role in history, they told her those battles continue. " They've had their own experiences," she said. And that's where the hard part comes in. Dianna Evangeline had the courage to step forward. So many women of that generation, my generation, put up with the same sort of abuse. We were young, we were female and we were powerless. But her courage, and the resulting change in human rights legislation, didn't end harassment. It simply clearly defined it as wrong. We already knew that. " So much has changed and some other things haven't changed at all," she said. " I live every day with the confidence we will get there." Thirty years ago, she did her part. She's not sorry. " You can't have regrets. You don't get do- overs in life." lindor. reynolds@ freepress. mb. ca Study on booming substance on hold Nanosilver research frozen by ELA's limbo By Mia Rabson Woman's landmark harassment battle saluted LINDOR REYNOLDS Man who died after fight was trying to help Intervened to aid brother, witnesses at scene say By Aldo Santin and Gabrielle Giroday ' As of today, we have not received any response from the government' - Diane Orihel, founder of Save ELA COLE BREILAND / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dianna Evangeline won in the Supreme Court. Marlin Gray WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The water's fine for them A female mallard duck leads a group of duckings on a morning swim at The Forks Monday. Humans won't feel much like swimming in the next while, with Environment Canada calling for cloudy, rainy weather until Friday, which should see sunny skies and a high of only 23 C. A_ 05_ Jun- 19- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A5 6/ 18/ 12 9: 42: 33 PM ;