NATIONAL BRIEFS

London, Ont., looks to crack down on rowdy rooftop parties in city

LONDON, Ont. — A southern Ontario city is considering cracking down on residents who party on their roofs.

City staff in London, Ont., are recommending an addition to the city’s nuisance bylaw to target the so-called practice of “brewfing” — the act of sitting on a roof and drinking beer, or other alcohol, largely during a party.

In a report that will be considered by the city’s community and protective services committee today, city staff explain that the bylaw was originally passed in May 2012 to address the issue of nuisance parties.

That year, several St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the city went awry when parties in an area heavily populated by students erupted into street riots.

The proposed amendment to the bylaw wants to add the practice of social gathering on roofs to the elements that make up a nuisance party.

Angry shoveller chases snowplow after cleared driveway filled back in

FREDERICTON — They’re calling it a case of shovel rage.

City officials say a Fredericton homeowner frustrated when a plow operator dumped a load of snow at the end of his driveway chased the loader up his suburban street, swinging his shovel.

Mike Walker, manager of roadway operations for Fredericton, told a city committee Tuesday about the Feb. 13 incident.

He says the homeowner was shovelling his driveway during a blizzard that dumped as much as 80 centimetres on the city.

Walker says he understands the man’s frustration, but while residents often make complaints he has never seen anyone chase after a plow before.

The plow operator told the man he was just doing his job, and moved on. Walker says Fredericton’s $2.3 million snow-clearing budget doesn’t allow for a level of service that would clear windrows from driveways after plows pass.

Quebec teacher among finalists for Global Teacher Prize

MONTREAL — A teacher from northern Quebec is in the running for the prestigious $1-million US Global Teacher Prize.

The Varkey Foundation says Maggie MacDonnell has been named a top-10 finalist for the award, which will be handed out in Dubai on March 19.

MacDonnell, raised in rural Nova Scotia, was chosen from among 20,000 initial nominations and applications from 179 countries.

She has taught for six years in the remote Nunavik region, where she has championed a healthier lifestyle and worked with a municipality to build a fitness centre that is open to adults and local schools.

If she wins, MacDonnell has said she would establish a non-profit that runs environmentally focused programs for northern youth.

This year’s other finalists come from China, Jamaica, Kenya, Brazil, Germany, England, Spain, Australia and Pakistan.