Canadians across the country mark Remembrance Day
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
Eight-year-old Emerson Doyle was thrilled to show his moves to Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies on Tuesday.
鈥淚 did a step-over. I showed him a step,鈥 Emerson said, holding his blue soccer ball in his left arm. 鈥淎nd Alphonso said, 'That's cool.鈥'
Emerson was among 44 kids, aged eight to 12, who joined the Canadian player at Victoria Soccer Club in west Edmonton - the first of many soccer camps said to be Davies's legacy project to inspire the next generation of soccer players in Canada.
鈥淚t's (about) enjoying the game and inspiring them to keep believing in your dreams,鈥 Davies said Tuesday at the soccer club.
Davies said camps like the one held Tuesday helped him find new friends as he was growing up, develop skills and compete, while also enjoying the moments.
The 22-year-old Edmontonian, who made history by scoring Canada's first and only goal at the men's FIFA World Cup in 2022, has inspired a young generation of players and hopes that his soccer camp will encourage youth to play the sport.
He's currently a member of FC Bayern Munich in Germany.
鈥淎lphonso is an idol of mine,鈥 said 11-year-old Elias Sauer, who plays for a local soccer club, Edmonton Scottish, and aspires to 鈥済o big鈥 like Davies.
Alan Mackenzie said his 11-year-old son Keiren, who was on the field with Davies, has been bouncing with excitement for a week.
鈥淒avies has blown up soccer in Edmonton. All the kids are playing soccer and want to be the next Davies,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t's exciting to see him in person.鈥
Tickets for the camp at Victoria Soccer Club, where Davies played many matches and spent hours practising as a child, were sold-out within five hours of going online, a spokesman with ATG Sports Management said.
He said the countrywide legacy project would run camps with grassroots programs, focusing on providing kids with the same curriculum Davies practised growing up.
The next camp is expected to be hosted in Toronto later this summer, and would eventually be expanded to regular camps every year, said the spokesman.
Davies, wearing a black jersey and black pants Tuesday, was quickly surrounded by kids on the soccer field, eager to learn and talk to their favourite sports star - telling him how much they love him, showing him their moves and following him around on the pitch.
The international soccer player, in return, was engaging with the kids, guiding them on drills like shooting and, occasionally, speaking to young players waiting for their turn on the pitch or helping a kid put on his team jersey.
鈥淕rowing up, I remember doing these drills, playing five-on-fives 芒鈧 It helps make it fun for everyone being able to compete with your peers,鈥 said Davies, who returned to his home city for a week since his last visit in December.
鈥淭hese are the things I did to help me develop my skills and also socialize with others.鈥
Nedal Huoseh, the CEO of ATG Sports Management, said launching the program in Davies's hometown was important for the legacy program.
鈥淎lphonso is a symbol of what is possible for many kids who have big dreams, and we hope these camps can inspire kids to be the best version of themselves.鈥
- This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023.
Today Canadians will remember and honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of the country's values and principles.
Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says that Tom Homan, his former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as "border czar" in his incoming administration.
Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 Dobbs decision eliminated the federal right to abortion, miscarriage management has become trickier and in some cases, deadlier.
The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.
Rod Ashby was desperate to find his wife Kim Ashby after their newly built home in Elk Park, North Carolina, was swept away by Hurricane Helene鈥檚 floodwaters in late September and she went missing.
It was the first time that Canadian UN peacekeeper Michelle Angela Hamelin said she came up against the raw emotion of a people so exasperated with their country's predicament.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik to be UN ambassador.
A congestion crisis, a traffic nightmare, or unrelenting gridlock -- whatever you call it, most agree that Toronto has a congestion problem. To alleviate some of the gridlock, the Ontario government has announced it plans to remove bike lanes from three major roadways.
For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.
Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.
A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.
A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.
Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.
A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.