Farhi family delivers huge gift to London Children’s Museum
Shmuel Farhi and family make a donation to the London Children’s Museum on Dec. 8, 2022 in London, Ont. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
Thursday marked an early start to the gift-giving season this year.
London-based developer Shmuel Farhi was joined by some of his family to deliver a $750,000 donation to London’s Children’s Museum.
“It’s about our children, our future,” explained Farhi while holding his grandson. “This is what we are all about. The folks here at the Children’s Museum are doing a great deed for many families.”
Farhi added that he hopes to inspire others to donate to the museum as it prepares to move to 100 Kellogg Lane in 2024.
“We learned even more through this pandemic how critical it is for children to have these opportunities, and this gift will really help us with our day to day operation,” explained Kate Ledgley, executive director of the London Children’s Museum.
Usually discreet about charitable giving, Farhi revealed that this latest donation put his family’s financial support to local causes over the $30 million mark in the past 35 years.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO will return to New York to face murder charges
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO will return to New York to face murder charges after agreeing to be extradited Thursday during a court appearance in Pennsylvania where he was arrested last week after five days on the run.
Potential scenarios for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals
The Liberal government was thrown into disarray this week when Chrystia Freeland stepped down from cabinet as finance minister, reviving calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down or call an election.
Will the Amazon strike impact Canadian deliveries?
As Amazon workers at several U.S. facilities begin a strike, Canadian shoppers are likely wondering how the job action will impact their deliveries.
Google Maps image provides clue in Spanish missing persons case
Chance images captured by a passing Google Maps camera showing a man leaning over a large bag or bags in a car trunk with what could be a human body gave police an extra clue in a murder investigation in the central Spanish village of Tajueco.
Gisèle Pelicot speaks after ex-husband found guilty of rapes, sentenced to 20 years in France
Gisele Pelicot spoke of her 'very difficult ordeal' after 51 men were all found guilty Thursday in the drugging-and-rape trial that turned her into a feminist hero, expressing support for other victims of sexual violence whose cases don't get such attention and 'whose stories remain untold.'
'This shouldn't happen': Calgary family seeks changes after WestJet accessibility incident
A Calgary woman wants WestJet to apologize to her daughter and to improve staff training on accessibility after an incident during their latest trip.
Mystery drone sightings continue in New Jersey and across the U.S. Here's what we know
A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why.
What's the best treatment for ADHD? Large new study offers clues
Stimulant medications and certain therapies are more effective in treating ADHD symptoms than placebos, a new study on more than 14,000 adults has found.
'We'll never be the 51st state,' Premier Ford says following Trump's latest jab
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada will 'never be the 51st state,' rebuking U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s latest social media post.
Kitchener
-
Potential scenarios for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals
The Liberal government was thrown into disarray this week when Chrystia Freeland stepped down from cabinet as finance minister, reviving calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down or call an election.
-
Police believe Cambridge jewelry store robberies are connected
Police have made an arrest in a jewelry store robbery at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, Ont.
-
Will the Amazon strike impact Canadian deliveries?
As Amazon workers at several U.S. facilities begin a strike, Canadian shoppers are likely wondering how the job action will impact their deliveries.
Barrie
-
Barrie man arrested on child pornography charges
Barrie police executed a search warrant at a Barrie home Wednesday.
-
Environment Canada issues weather advisory for our region
Lake effect snow is expected across areas of central Ontario this morning.
-
Ont. father says police failed his family after 911 calls went unanswered
An Orangeville man is calling for accountability from Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) after he says thieves armed with a gun broke into his home and left his family traumatized.
Windsor
-
Waste management program featuring locked bins launching in downtown Windsor
A new waste management program is launching in downtown Windsor as part of the Strengthen the Core initiative.
-
Ontario college faculty in legal strike position as of Jan. 4: union
The union representing Ontario’s college faculties says it will be in a legal strike position as of Jan. 4., after saying there's been no real progress in contract negotiations.
-
New LaSalle fire hall aiming for January 2025 opening
Construction on the town's second fire station at 2160 Front Rd. began at the end of October, on the former site of Centennial Arena near Old Front Road.
Northern Ontario
-
Donald Trump says Canada becoming 51st U.S. state is 'a great idea.' Jean Charest calls the comment a 'wake-up call'
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is taking aim at Canada once more, saying it would be 'a great idea' to make it America's ‘51st state.'
-
Two men charged in death of Markham real estate agent as search continues for murder suspect
Two people have been charged in connection with the disappearance and death of a Markham real estate agent whose remains were found in Parry Sound over the summer.
-
War of words escalates into lawsuits between Greater Sudbury, roads contractor
A bitter battle between Greater Sudbury and a southern Ontario roads contractor related to a troubled repair job on the Kingsway is now in the courts.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
'There's just no rhyme or reason': Sault gun shop owners frustrated by additions to gun ban
The federal government’s recent expansion of its gun buy-back program has frustrated firearm owners and sellers in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
-
Two Quebecers used fake IDs to try to access money in northern Ontario, police say
Two people from Quebec were caught trying to use fake IDs last week to access money from two northern Ontario businesses, Ontario Provincial Police say.
-
Sault bookkeeper charged with stealing $559K from employer
A 50-year-old who managed the finances for a business in Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with embezzling $559,701.63 from the business in just more than four years.
Ottawa
-
Here’s how to stay safe during the holidays in Ottawa
It’s the season for holiday celebrations and the Ottawa Police Service wants you to stay safe, noting that it’s a busy time for thieves as well.
-
Inside the Shepherds of Good Hope's supportive housing on Merivale Road
CTV News Ottawa was invited to tour the facility at 1095 Merivale Rd. and speak to staff and residents following issues raised by those living nearby.
-
Canada Post to start accepting more mail as it ramps up post-strike operations
Canada Post is set to start accepting commercial letters and parcels as it works to get back to normal operations following a month-long strike.
Toronto
-
Gas leak prompts closure of portion of Bathurst Street in downtown Toronto
A major downtown artery is closed due to a reported gas leak.
-
Nearly one-third of Canadians have fallen victim to travel scams: survey
Industry experts are warning travellers to be wary when booking their upcoming trips online, as scammers are using artificial intelligence to defraud consumers.
-
Man dies in hospital following shooting in Scarborough Village
A man has died following an overnight shooting in the Scarborough Village area, Toronto police say.
Montreal
-
Montreal's vacancy rate is going up, but so is rent
The vacancy rate in Montreal is going up for the first time since the pandemic started — but so are rents, which almost doubled in six years, according to new data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
-
In Montreal, one man is fighting to stop DVDs from going the way of the dodo
The Luddites were a 19th-century group of British textile workers who destroyed the mechanized looms and knitting frames they saw as a threat to their livelihoods.
-
Electric bus maker Lion Electric granted creditor protection by Quebec court
The Lion Electric Co. says it has been granted protection from creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act by the Superior Court of Quebec.
Atlantic
-
Mix of snow, rain Wednesday night and Thursday; nor'easter Friday night into Saturday
A strong coastal storm threatens to bring heavy snowfall to parts of the Maritimes this weekend.
-
Two women in hospital after SUV, transport truck collide on N.S. highway
Two people are in hospital after a collision between an SUV and a transport truck in Shelburne, N.S.
-
N.S. RCMP arrest man after seizing thousands of grams of illegal cannabis from storefront
A 34-year-old man is set to face charges after the Nova Scotia RCMP says officers seized thousands of grams of illegal cannabis as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.
Winnipeg
-
'Missed opportunities' identified in critical incident review of Earl Moberg case
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has apologized to Earl Moberg’s family after finding "missed opportunities" in the care of the 81-year-old man with advanced dementia who went missing a year ago.
-
Dangerous road conditions, snowy weather forces Manitoba school closures, bus cancellations
Dangerous driving conditions and snowy morning weather have forced the cancellation of some Manitoba schools and bus routes on Thursday.
-
Thursday morning fire in Winnipeg causing road closures
A Thursday morning fire in Winnipeg’s Dufferin neighborhood is causing road closures in the area.
Calgary
-
Danielle Smith, Adriana LaGrange to share update on new doctor pay model
Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta's health minister are set to announce details on an updated pay model for family physicians Thursday afternoon.
-
No guarantees as Calgary tries to salvage some cherished Olympic Plaza bricks
Valerie Salkeld remembers her then-boyfriend picking her up after work one cold day in January 1990 and heading over to Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary to watch people skating.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Warm up starts Thursday with temps 6 to 13 degrees warmer than average
A reset on an unusual weather pattern will bring more moderate conditions for southern Alberta starting Thursday.
Edmonton
-
'We're still filling the glass," Strathcona Spirits Distillery says after fire
A fire at Strathcona Spirits Distillery in south Edmonton on Wednesday caused minor injuries to one staff member, but could have been much worse, the company says.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: The cold spell is (finally) winding down
We're into the final days of what has been a COLD week in Edmonton, but it's not over just yet.
-
A first-of-its-kind television show to premiere from Grande Prairie filmmaker
A Grande Prairie filmmaker’s newest project explores the planet's fragile ecosystems while highlighting indigenous and Western solutions to problems facing waterways in Canada.
Regina
-
Daily flights to Denver coming to Regina in 2025
Regina's International Airport will offer a daily flight to Denver for travellers – beginning in May 2025.
-
'Create good Christmas memories for these kids': Regina schools experience Winter Wonderland
For the second year in a row, the Conexus Arts Centre was decorated as a Winter Wonderland and host to the Annual Community School Day.
-
Sask. Teachers' Federation and province await decision from binding arbitration hearing
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the province are now awaiting a decision from the Arbitration Board following a binding arbitration hearing.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon police investigate city's 15th homicide
Major crime and forensic investigators are searching for evidence in what’s been deemed Saskatoon’s 15th homicide of the year.
-
'Should move forward': Still no plea from Saskatchewan student who allegedly set teen on fire
More than three months have passed since a Saskatoon girl was set on fire, yet her classmate charged in connection with the incident has still not made a plea.
-
'Don't want to lose any more people': Saskatoon rally calls for solutions for growing homeless population
David Fineday doesn't want any more of his friends to die on Saskatoon streets this winter.
Vancouver
-
The Squamish Nation brings festive joy to families with annual brimming hampers
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) families are looking forward to a festive feast this season, thanks to another successfully completed Yuletide mission from the nation's charitable elves.
-
Strong wind warnings in place for parts of Vancouver Island
Environment Canada has issued two separate wind warnings for Vancouver Island Thursday morning.
-
'I am suffering': B.C. hit-and-run victim pleads for driver to come forward
A hospitalized Burnaby, B.C., woman is asking the hit-and-run driver who put her there to come forward.
Vancouver Island
-
Providing MAID to man on day pass from B.C. psychiatric ward was 'unlawful,' family alleges
A 52-year-old man who was provided with a medically assisted death while out on a day pass from a B.C. psychiatric hospital should never have been approved for the life-ending procedure, his family alleges in a recently filed wrongful death lawsuit.
-
B.C. is the province least likely to want to join the United States, new poll suggests
British Columbians have little appetite to sever ties with Canada and join the United States, according to new polling.
-
B.C. housing minister singles out 2 municipalities for lack of new home construction
In September 2023, the province gave 10 municipalities new home construction targets to meet in the first year under B.C.'s Housing Supply Act. The housing minster says two – West Vancouver and Oak Bay – didn’t come close.
