A detective with the Ottawa Police Service was handed a 24-month demotion following an “unauthorized” project involving private information. Det. Helen Grus, in a hearing on Tuesday, was found guilty of discreditable conduct due to unauthorized access to previous cases in the Police Service’s Record Management System. The retrieval of sensitive case details from the database consisted of nine infant or child death cases, as Grus said she was privately investigating a possible link between these infant deaths and COVID-19 vaccinations, after also having contacted a victim infant’s father outside of protocol to inquire about vaccination status. Hearing officer (retired) Supt. Chris Kenwick said that her actions of discredit and perceived abuse of police power needed to be addressed and taken seriously.

A Carleton Place salon was recently flagged for possible risks of infection. The findings of the investigation by Southeast Public Health (SEPH) at Galleria Nails, Spa and Eyelashes on McNeely Avenue included the discovery of equipment that was not adequately cleaned and disinfected. SEPH narrowed the affected clients down to those “who received manicure, pedicure or waxing services between July 4, 2023, and August 12, 2026”, and, although they added that no blood-borne infection was directly linked to the failed standards at the salon, such ailments as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or even HIV could not be ruled out. The issues at the salon have since been corrected, but the health unit still recommends that those who recently visited should “discuss their personal risk” with a health care provider.

Yes, not all maple syrup is the same. And yes, it can fly under the radar of even major grocers covering Ottawa, who now find themselves in the thick of a lawsuit against a Quebec producer accused of selling watered-down maple syrup labelled as pure, and at a considerable discount compared to other producers. The lawsuit was updated earlier this month to include the grocery chains due to a lack of due diligence on their part to validate the low-price offering of the Steve Bourdeau maple syrup cans against other brands, despite the Bourdeau brand continuing to defend its practices. Although still pending court approval, the suit also has provisions for consumer refunds and possibly another $100 compensation in damages for those who made Bourdeau purchases since April 2023.