IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
News that she'd be headed back to the office was very welcoming for English instructor Kathy Andvaag, after more than two years teaching from her “dark” and “cold” basement.
Unlike many Canadian women who say they would prefer a flexible work schedule, Andvaag was very happy when she received the notice from her employer in October informing her to return to the office.
After two years and seven months of working from home, she now goes to the office most of the time.
“I get a lot of energy from my students in person and also from seeing some colleagues in person every day”, Andvaag told CTVNews.ca.
Andvaag, who teachers English as an additional language (EAL) in Saskatchewan, said, “I sometimes felt isolated at home and like I couldn't bear to go to my dark, cold basement office one more day.”
A recent study suggests working from home is a top priority for women, with 42 per cent saying they would give up a higher salary if it meant they could work from home as much as they like.
Although going back to the office is not always convenient for Andvaag, she still prefers it, saying working with students and colleagues in person is more effective and productive.
“As an EAL instructor, it is much better for my low-level learners. We can do so many more interactive activities. We have more of a community in person than online,” she said.
While Andvaag feels more productive while not at home, when it comes to actual productivity, where you work from is not really important, according to Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice-president at human resources company LifeWorks.
In an interview with CTVNews.ca, Allen, based in Toronto, said there are other things that should be considered.
“Really, it depends on a number of factors. The first factor is the nature of the job. There are some jobs that you need that collaboration, and you need to have that essential place, and [others where it] is not as critical and you do the job through video conference and other means,” she said.
“The other major factor is the nature of the individual. Some people work very well on their own. They are able to focus, they are able to organize and they are able to reach out for other when others need help.”
In the winter, cold temperatures and snowy weather can be a large issue if working in person. But for Tim, a manager at a Saskatchewan Crown corporation who declined to give his full name, the temperature doesn't bother him, nor does waking up early in the morning and heading to the office.
Although most of Tim’s work can be done online and he has flexibility at work, he prefers to go to the office and says he benefits from the social aspects of working in person.
“It is more difficult to get to know other team members without working with them in person,” he told CTVNews.ca. “I feel that new employees in companies can have a hard time getting acquainted with their work group without seeing and interacting with them in person. I think a mix of online and in-person work can give the benefits of both methods if used properly.”
Another element on the minds of some is their health. Canadians are returning to the office amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which the World Health Organization says remains a global health emergency.
“My feeling of safety changes from time to time. When reports of more virulent stains of [COVID-19] come out, I feel more uncertain. I believe safety concerns due to the pandemic will continue for years to come,” Tim said.
A recent survey shows that, on average, Canadians reported they wanted to work at home 58 per cent of the time.
“Time for commute and money is the number one reason why people really were wanting to have that work from home option,” Allen said.
Allen suggests that employers should find a solution for those who want flexibility in work and listen to them.
“You will never get good productivity if you are fighting with your employees. Whatever solution you have, you have to develop that solution jointly,” she said. “Be transparent and listen to your employees as well.”
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
The stakes have been set for a bet between Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors on who will win Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
A P.E.I. lighthouse and a New Brunswick river are being honoured in a Canada Post series.