A Florida snapping turtle recently left outside a Vaughan, Ont., zoo is the second case of reptile abandonment zoo officials have dealt with this year.

Reptilia Vaughan said in a Facebook post Friday that the turtle was abandoned in a bin outside its facility near Rutherford and Creditstone roads. A note identified the turtle as “Gilberto.”

It is now second reptile abandoned at its doors this year, the zoo said.

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“Every week, Reptilia receives inquiries for aquatic turtles to be surrendered in our care and often, due to their long lives and solitary lifestyles, we must say no and point the owners to other resources and organizations,” the organization said.

“Leaving a reptile at our front door, subject to the elements does not change capacity, and only limits our abilities to help.”

The zoo added those who can’t care for an animal should call licensed rescues or professionals for help.

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Toys “R” Us Canada is battling tech giant Acer Inc., a Calgary swingers club and a Russian business over trademarks the struggling retailer says will cause confusion with its own branding.

The toy chain is opposing applications the three businesses filed in hopes of registering as trademarks a backwards R, the phrase “Club R” and the word “Wonderlab,” respectively, in their products or marketing.

It’s handling the cases even as the retailer remains in creditor protection and searches for investors for the business or buyers for assets, like the trademarks, which could be sold to help the company with its severe cash crunch. It owes at least $120 million to suppliers alone and says its landlords are also out “substantial” amounts.

Toys “R” Us Canada has said in its creditor protection filings that it is opposing the use of names and symbols linked to its brand to “protect its proprietary rights and goodwill.” Its lawyer did not respond to The Canadian Press’ requests for comment on the cases.

Furthest along in the process is the case over Wonderlab, the indoor playground and crafting space that Toys “R” Us Canada started experimenting with in 2013. It recently renamed the concept Playlab.

A Russian company known as Biomicrogeli wants permission to use the Wonderlab name on a wide range of products including lactose food products, toiletries like shower gel, soap and shaving cream, as well as diaper rash ointments, documents filed with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) show.

Because Toys “R” Us Canada’s Wonderlab trademark covers food, beverages, diapers, medicine and skin, hair and bath products, the retailer’s lawyers say letting Biomicrogeli use Wonderlab would be “confusing,” especially because the Russian company’s products “would target the same consumers and would be sold in the same channels of trade.”

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The argument was bolstered by an affidavit from a director of store planning worried there could be a “serious safety concern” if a child were to assume that a Wonderlab product from Biomicrogeli — which could contain chemicals — is safe to try out as they would in the toy store’s Wonderlab.

A lawyer for Biomicrogeli did not respond to a request for comment.

Many of the trademark applications Toys “R” Us Canada is opposing were made in the four years leading up to the company entering creditor protection in February but are still ongoing because it can take years to get permission to use a symbol when there is opposition.

No matter the circumstances a company is in when a fight comes to fruition, “you don’t want somebody else infringing on your rights,” said Erin McEwen, a trademark agent at Nelligan Law in Ottawa.

“It dilutes your brand, really, because consumers could think that that other brand is associated with your brand.”

She found 162 active trademarks registered to Toys “R” Us Canada but said it’s not unusual for companies to have that many, nor for them to pay lawyers to identify and oppose every application that has any shred of similarity to a company’s own trademarks.

Businesses are so aggressive in defending them because trademarks allow companies to tamp down on competitors and remain one of the most lucrative assets companies have.

“They could sell them. They could license them,” McEwen said. “There’s so many things they could do with them.”

For example, when Hudson’s Bay filed for creditor protection and closed all its stores last year, it made $30 million by selling intellectual property, including the company name and rights to its iconic stripes, to Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd.

Among the trademarks Toys “R” Us Canada has are a reversed R — it says it’s had rights to that for at least 45 years. In addition to the main brand’s logo, the backwards letter is found in the Babies “R” Us name. The company also has trademarks for Puppies “R” Us and Bruin, the chain’s toyline which uses a reversed R.

However, Acer Inc. now wants to use a backwards and capitalized letter R with an arrow on electronics and accessories.

Acer and its lawyer did not respond to a request for comment, but Toys “R” Us Canada has said letting the company use the logo on electronics and accessories would be “confusing.”

A letter Toys “R” Us Canada’s lawyer filed with the CIPO says it will eventually make the same point in a tussle with Club Rendezvous Inc., a Calgary swingers club looking to use “Club R.”

If the Alberta business can use the name, it would affect the distinctiveness, strength, level of protection and value that Toys “R” Us’s Club R trademark has, the retailer’s lawyer says.

Club Rendezvous’ owners, who The Canadian Press agreed not to name because their families are unaware of their involvement in the business, said they “do not believe there is any realistic likelihood of confusion” between their business and Toys “R” Us Canada because they operate in “a completely different industry and market segment.”

“We have built the Club R brand in good faith and remain confident in our position,” they said in an email. “At this stage, given the matter is ongoing, we are limited in what we can comment on publicly but will continue to co-operate fully with the process.”

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Along the B.C.-Alberta border, ski resorts remain packed as ideal conditions continue to attract skiers and snowboarders.

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The excessive snowfall has also helped replenish snow pillows and reservoirs, which some experts believe will help reinvigorate ranches and farms across Alberta that have dealt with drought conditions.

Drew Stremick has more in the video above.

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Jeremy Hansen, just days away from becoming the first Canadian astronaut to circle the moon as part of the Artemis II mission, gave the country yet another glimpse into life on the final frontier.

Hansen, along with American astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, took part in a live question-and-answer session early Sunday from aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft to answer questions submitted by Canadian kids.

The virtual event, the second of its kind, took place about four days into the 10-day lunar flyby mission.

One youth asked how food is prepared and eaten in space, while another wanted Hansen to pick a movie that best reflects what it’s like in space. Hansen responded with 1995’s “Apollo 13” starring Tom Hanks — save for its disastrous chain of events.

“That movie really shows you a lot what it’s like with just three humans trapped in a tiny capsule and surviving in space together,” the 50-year-old from Ontario said. “It’s one of my favourite space movies.”

Ahead of the Q-and-A, NASA announced on social media that the four astronauts were officially “moonbound” and were more than halfway there. The space agency also shared two photos of the moon, and one of the inside of the Orion capsule.

Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo flights of the 1960s and ’70s. It had been delayed a few times since February due to hydrogen fuel leaks and helium flow problems.

During Sunday’s event, one youth asked how human organs behave in microgravity.

2:31
NASA releases stunning new images by Artemis II from deep space 

Hansen said he doesn’t notice much of a difference, but he can feel the blood shifting from one part of his body to another.

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“I’m sure my face is a lot (more) puffy now because there’s a lot more blood up in my upper regions of my body, because gravity is not constantly pulling it down,” he said.

“I can just sort of feel it in my head … It’s not bad. But it’s just slightly different.”

Koch said when astronauts spend a lot of time in microgravity, organs adapt to the environment. The heart doesn’t work as hard to pump blood to the brain. Due to the loss of gravity, she also said there’s risk of kidney disease.

Hansen was also asked whether the crew sees a crescent-shaped Earth, as those on the ground sometimes see a crescent moon in the night sky.

“The reality is we do,” he said. “We’ve seen a half-Earth, partial crescent Earth, we’ve seen a dark Earth.”

The four-person crew is expected to do a lunar flyby on Day 6 of the mission. They will zip around the moon in their capsule — about the size of a campervan — before coming home.

The Canadian Space Agency says that on arrival at the moon, the crew will spend several hours observing and photographing its surface to help scientists understand the geologic processes that shaped it and the solar system.

At its closest, the moon will be about the size of a basketball held at arm’s length.

Hansen said there’s been a lot of personal give-and-take on this mission. His family, he said, has had to give him some grace and make some sacrifices.

“Sometimes with this job, I can’t be there for them when they would like me to be there,” he said. “There’s a lot of sacrifice from the family, and so they’ve definitely done that for me, and they’ve been my greatest cheerleaders along the way.”

Asked in French what role young people play in the future of space exploration, Hansen said it’s “necessary that the next generation contributes to our future.”

“When there is something that interests you, learn as much as possible and also share this dream, this goal, with others and form a team, and you can do important things for humanity,” he said.

The capsule and its crew are expected to splash down April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

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A stretch of Highway 403 will be closed for several hours on Sunday following a collision between  a transport truck and an SUV in Oxford County, Ont. No one was injured.

According to Sgt. Ed Sanchuk with OPP West Region, a westbound transport truck crossed the centre median into the eastbound lanes of Highway 403 and collided with the SUV.

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“The great news out of this, both drivers walked away with absolutely no injuries,” Sanchuk said in a video posted to X. “The bad news, well, the eastbound lanes of Highway 403 are going to be closed between Highway 53 and Middle Townline Road for the next eight to 10 hours while we continue to investigate and get this fully-loaded transport truck removed off the highway.”

Sanchuk said OPP responded to the report of the crash alongside fire and paramedic crews.

In the video, the transport truck could be seen on its side behind Sanchuk.

He went on to thank both emergency officials and Good Samaritans who stopped to provide assistance before reminding people to travel safely.

“It’s truly a miracle that both drivers walked away with no injuries,” Sanchuk said.

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Cheers erupted in the Alberta community of Taber on Saturday as Kraft Hockeyville announced the town had been named the 2026 winner of the contest’s $250,000 prize.

“I got goosebumps, almost tears in my eyes,” said John Browning, a Taber parent, told Global News. “Watching these kids celebrate and bringing this thing home, it’s a sense of joy.”

Taber was originally named one of two finalists in late March following the loss of its only two ice rinks in December to a Zamboni explosion.

City council has earmarked $6 million to rebuild its large ice rink after the blast shattered the walls around it, but about $5 million more is needed to fix the ice rink and the remaining parts of the community centre. The town has requested $8 million from the federal government for upgrades.

With the Hockeyville win, which followed a two-week public vote, Taber will now receive $250,000 for rink upgrades and will have the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game in the fall of 2027.

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“Community, community, community, that’s what this means here, what this rink and what this facility means to Taber and area,” Mayor Andrew Prokop said in an interview. “The biggest thing was that our community came together, rallied behind us, and not just Taber, our whole region. And that’s huge, we can’t thank people enough for that.”

In addition, Taber, along with the runner-up, Tumbler Ridge, B.C., and the 11 provincial and territorial finalists, will also receive $10,000 in brand-new hockey equipment. Tumbler Ridge is also receiving $100,000 for rink upgrades as the national runner-up.

In a statement, the Town of Taber thanked Kraft Heinz and its Hockeyville partners,  the NHL and NHL Players Association (NHLPA), for believing in the community, but focused on the community itself for its endless support.

The town also thanked Canadians for choosing “to stand with Taber” during the contest’s vote. It went on to congratulate Tumbler Ridge as well, saying it was “proud to stand beside you.”

“Your strength and your love for your community are undeniable,” the statement said.

Two months ago, several students in Tumbler Ridge were killed when a shooter went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opened fire. The shooter had gone to the school after killing her mother and half brother at their family home.

In a Hockeyville post, Amy Heaton, a hockey parent and coach, said that the community had gathered at their rink to grieve.

The town said it planned to use its Hockeyville funds to upgrade the rink’s sound system and accessible seating.

“My heart goes out to the folks of Tumbler Ridge,” Browning said. “They needed it as much as we did, and my sincere condolences to their community. We’re hoping for nothing but the best.”

Repairs on the Taber rinks are expected to wrap up by the end of summer 2026, with the arena set to reopen ahead of the next hockey season.

“This was never just about hockey. This was about home,” the town of Taber’s statement said.

—with files from Global News’ Jordan Prentice

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