Canada Letter: Making houses less vulnerable to wildfires

Nelson, British Columbia, is one of several places asking homeowners to make changes. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP4QtAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPUNOREEmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGZDM1NzYyMDItZjE1Mi01NWI1LTk1YzUtZGMwZTFlNzc4ZGYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NjE5JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzA5MDImdGU9MSZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDJXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [NYTimes.com/Canada](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY2FuYWRhP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) September 2, 2023 A Fire Department’s Program To Protect Homes From Wildfires [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvaWFuLWF1c3Rlbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) By [Ian Austen](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvaWFuLWF1c3Rlbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) Shortly before the current wildfires moved toward Kelowna in British Columbia, I traveled there, and to other points in the province, to report on programs that can give communities a fighting chance at protecting homes and other buildings, and that allow residents to safely flee when fires arrive. Two years ago, a fire scorched mature trees in West Kelowna, British Columbia. But without excess brush, it didn’t do major damage to the forest.Amber Bracken for The New York Times The programs are impressive, as I described in my article, and especially so in a neighborhood of suburban West Kelowna, where a 2021 fire roared up to the city’s edge, but only destroyed one home. Now, by contrast, the still-burning fires in the same municipality — but in an area where there has been little or no fire mitigation work on the forest — have severely damaged or destroyed buildings on [69 different properties](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2VzdGtlbG93bmFjaXR5LmNhL2VuL25ld3MvY2l0eS1vZi13ZXN0LWtlbG93bmEtY29tbXVuaXR5LXVwZGF0ZS1hdWd1c3QtMjktMjAyMy5hc3B4P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). [Read: [How Indigenous Techniques Saved a Community From Wildfire](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8yNy93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEvY2FuYWRhLXdpbGRmaXJlcy1rZWxvd25hLWJyaXRpc2gtY29sdW1iaWEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)] The projects I described reduce fire risk through a labor-intensive process that draws partly on Indigenous traditions, and were carried out by two Indigenous-owned companies. But I also headed east, to Nelson, where the municipal fire service is doing similar work in the surrounding forest while also working with homeowners to make their properties less vulnerable to fire. The green landscape of Nelson is a sharp contrast to the brown, arid landscape of the Central Okanagan around Kelowna. Jeff Hebert, the fire chief in Nelson, described it as “interior rainforest.” But upstairs in a fire hall that dates to 1911, Chief Hebert said that he was always on the lookout for potential wildfire danger in the seemingly lush area. “I didn’t think that being the fire chief, you also became a weatherman,” he said. The Nelson fire chief, Jeff Hebert, in a fire mitigation area.Amber Bracken for The New York Times There are reminders of the threat. Outside the fire hall, Chief Hebert pointed out the burned scars left by a relatively recent fire on the other side of Kootenay Lake. Aside from the lake, the city is otherwise encircled by forests. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NjE2JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzA5MDImdGU9MSZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDJXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) In addition to doing measures similar to those taken in Kelowna, Nelson is one of several communities in Western Canada actively promoting a homeowner’s program [known as FireSmart](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SyaHR0cHM6Ly9maXJlc21hcnRiYy5jYS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). It wasn’t always an easy sell. Heather Slack, Chief Hebert’s executive assistant, told me that when she was first promoting the program at events like farmers’ markets, people brushed her off by saying that they knew all about smoke alarms. And some homeowners were skeptical about the idea of a firefighter performing a wildfire safety inspection of their properties. “People think we’re going to come in and demand that they cut down their trees or that it’s going to take a really long time or that it’s going to cost a lot of money,” she told me. “There are a lot of misconceptions about the program.” Much of the program involves taking seemingly straightforward measures: storing firewood away from the home, not using wooden shingles for the roof, using fire-resistant siding, not spreading wood chips right up to the house, cleaning out gutters and, yes, ideally keeping trees well away from houses. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAzNTA1JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzA5MDImdGU9MSZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDJXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) But the Nelson fire department isn’t dogmatic about that last point. Chief Hebert took me in his pickup truck to a wooden bungalow with eight tall, and highly flammable, cedars out front. Rather than remove them, the fire department recommended trimming them to mitigate their fire potential. The homeowner, a retired teacher, said the work brought the added benefit of brightening up his veranda and interior. The bungalow forestry work was also funded in full by the city through a program for retirees with modest incomes — another part of Nelson’s approach to fire mitigation. Other homeowners can qualify for grants of up to $500 to help pay for the forestry work. Not every recommendation is an easy sell. In particular a lot of homeowners resist replacing very flammable coniferous bushes near their homes, like cedar and juniper, with deciduous ones that may lose their leaves in the fall but which won’t act like torches in a fire. FireSmart ideally needs involvement from every homeowner; just a single high-risk house ignited by wildfire can devastate a neighborhood. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4OTY3JmxpPUNOREEmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPUNOREFfMjAyMzA5MDImdGU9MSZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDJXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) In an effort to reach full participation, and build some peer pressure, Nelson has funded neighborhood-wide remediation programs. The city is also working with researchers to do an assessment of high-risk areas, which will then be used as a data point in approaching homeowners. Nelson is also reminding homeowners that a growing number of insurers now offer discounts to those who make remediation efforts. While the fire department still encounters residents who have no interest in FireSmart, Chief Hebert has said he warns them that the community’s proximity to a forest means that fire is inevitable, as it is part of the natural ecosystem. “Mother Nature will create her own balance,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind. If she wants fire, she’s going to get it.” Trans Canada Hundreds of young salmon and trout died in July in Vancouver, in the Cowichan River, a renowned fly-fishing destination.Alana Paterson for The New York Times - My colleague Norimitsu Onishi reports from Vancouver Island that some scientists suspect that climate change is to blame for the [dramatic drop in the salmon population](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8zMC93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEvY2FuYWRhLXdpbGRmaXJlcy1yaXZlci1zYWxtb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) on the Cowichan River. - Keith Spicer, [Canada’s first commissioner of official languages](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8zMS93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEva2VpdGgtc3BpY2VyLWRlYWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), has died at the age of 89. A holder of many positions, in and outside of government, Mr. Spicer was “more or less an official gadfly,” writes my colleague Sam Roberts. - Jesse Green, the chief theater critic for The New York Times, was heartened after spending a week at the Stratford Festival, and found that it was [nearly back to its prepandemic capacity](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8yOS90aGVhdGVyL3N0cmF0Zm9yZC1mZXN0aXZhbC1jYW5hZGEtd2VkZGluZy1iYW5kLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). - Beekeepers sprang into action after a near miss on a busy highway left [5 million bees buzzing](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8zMC93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEvYmVlLXJlc2N1ZS1vbnRhcmlvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) around in Burlington, Ontario. - In the summer of 1929, while the Nisga’a people in northwestern British Columbia were away from their villages on an annual hunting, fishing and harvesting trip, a 36-foot-tall totem pole carved from red cedar to honor Ts’wawit, a warrior, [was cut down by an anthropologist.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8yOS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvdG90ZW0tcG9sZS1uaXNnYS1hLW5hdGlvbi1zY290bGFuZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) It was sent to the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh (now the National Museum of Scotland). Emma Bubola reports on its return home. - Global Affairs Canada is formally [advising L.G.B.T.Q. Canadians](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8zMC93b3JsZC9jYW5hZGEvdHJhdmVsLXdhcm5pbmctdXMtbGdidHEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) traveling to the United States that they may be affected by recently enacted state laws. - Alexandra Paul, [a figure skater who competed for Canada](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC8yOC9zcG9ydHMvYWxleGFuZHJhLXBhdWwtZmlndXJlLXNrYXRlci1raWxsZWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, was killed in a car crash. She was 31. - Much like Canada’s residential school system, the United States’ Native American boarding school system had a [devastating effect](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMy8wOC8zMC91cy9uYXRpdmUtYW1lcmljYW4tYm9hcmRpbmctc2Nob29scy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) on Indigenous families and culture. A team at The Times used data compiled over the course of several years by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition to document its toll. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten. How are we doing? We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to [nytcanada@nytimes.com](mailto:nytcanada@nytimes.com?%20subject=Canada%20Letter%20Newsletter%20Feedback). Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvY2FuYWRhLWxldHRlcj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmc21pZD1ueXRlbWFpbCZzbXZhcj1jYW5hZGFsZXR0ZXImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-tracking_unit-3) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Canada Letter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Canada Letter, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3B0b3V0P2VtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZwcm9kdWN0PUNOREEmc2VuZF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ0b2tlbj1lYzk4NTdiNWU2ZTY3Y2U2MTFhODY0MjBjNjU3M2VhYzRhZDUzNDNkZDM1ZjQzMTRkOTM2ZjRlYjhkM2I1OTM2ZGFmMDA1NDg4YzRiMTlmYTVmNDc4YTc4NmNjZTkzZDRXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, [manage your email settings](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvbWFuYWdlP2VtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZzZW5kX2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnRva2VuPTFiM2QyOWQxZGU0YjBlNTYyZTY1YjVmNmY3ZTBhMWNkZDg3MGYyN2RmMjQwMjkxOWUxMTkxNmEyODlkMDkwY2M3NmJjY2M4ZjQwNTRmOTg4Y2RkZmE0NDVmNjI2N2ZlNFcDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, [submit a request](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9yZXF1ZXN0cy9uZXc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVJYNzgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VydmljZXMvbW9iaWxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Connect with us on: [facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0S8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL255dGltZXMvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRpbWVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRpbWVzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0THaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDE3NTImbmw9Y2FuYWRhLWxldHRlciZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQzNTYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9oZWxwL3JpZ2h0cy9wcml2YWN5L3BvbGljeS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUwJmVtYz1lZGl0X2NuZGFfMjAyMzA5MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTAxNzUyJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0MzU2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZPDEB_NkyNf9BFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TPaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[California Notices](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHJpdmFjeS9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLW5vdGljZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MCZlbWM9ZWRpdF9jbmRhXzIwMjMwOTAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwMTc1MiZubD1jYW5hZGEtbGV0dGVyJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDM1NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmTwxAfzZMjX_QRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [LiveIntent Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vcG93ZXJlZC1ieT90ZT0xJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMlcDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[AdChoices Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRm1YzEP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vYWQtY2hvaWNlcz90ZT0xJm5sPWNhbmFkYS1sZXR0ZXImZW1jPWVkaXRfY25kYV8yMDIzMDkwMlcDbnl0Qgpk8MQH82TI1_0EUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018