This Man Finally Got To Thank The Student Who Saved His Life 25 Years Ago

Walker says he couldn't believe it when a car pulled up and "an angel" came to help him. It was Dr. Michael Franks. A medical student at the time, Franks saved Walker's life that night on New Years Day 1996. "I wanted to let him know that what he did not only helped save me but helped save my community," Walker said. "I know I wouldn't have been able to give that (to my community) if it wasn't for him helping me that day."

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New Fragrance Launched For Those Who Prefer Scent-Free Living

In a beauty industry known for going bigger and bolder, Victoria Jackson and Kim Wileman are betting on something different: stillness. Their newest launch, No Fragrance Fragrance, is a quiet revolution in a space that usually speaks loudly. It doesn’t cling. It doesn’t overwhelm. And it doesn’t announce itself before you walk into a room. Instead, it adapts — to your pH, your skin, your environment — creating a scent that’s less about wearing perfume and more about reflecting who you are. Already named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2025, the product is described as a “Fragrance Essence,” a new category coined by the duo behind No Makeup Makeup. Jackson and Wileman are the same pair who brought back minimalist beauty with products that enhance instead of cover. Now, they’re bringing that same ethos to fragrance. At the heart of No Fragrance Fragrance is FlexScent™ technology, a formula that changes with your chemistry. What you get is a lightweight veil of soft musk, peony petals, pink pomelo, and lily of the valley — but no two wearers will smell exactly the same. “It’s less about wearing a scent and more about embodying one,” Wileman says. Jackson’s approach is deeply personal. After decades of requests from fans, she wanted her return to fragrance to be about more than smell. “I wanted to create a scent that grounds you… one you truly feel,” she says. Inspired by her favorite meditation poem, My Shadow, she imagined a fragrance as a daily ritual — something that calms the mind, not just perfumes the skin. The bottle itself mirrors that idea: a smooth, sculptural object with no defined beginning or end. A small tactile divot is carved into its side, designed to rest between your fingers — a gentle prompt to pause and breathe. It retails for $75. Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, the essence is also microbiome-friendly, developed with My Z-Biome™ technology from Givaudan’s Custom Essence fragrance house. That means it works with your body’s natural chemistry rather than fighting it — no irritation, no synthetic overload. And while it’s not a traditional perfume, it’s already finding fans across generations and industries. Meghan Markle is a longtime supporter of Jackson’s minimalist beauty line and recently used the brand’s Blush & Lip Color during a trip to New York. Oprah Winfrey, a new fan, says it’s the only fragrance she wears. “I almost never wear fragrance—I like the fresh scent of just stepping out of a shower—but this one won me over,” Oprah said. “It’s light, clean, and somehow becomes your own.” The product’s sold-out launch on QVC suggests she’s not the only one feeling that way. For a brand built on the philosophy that less can be more, No Fragrance Fragrance feels like a natural next step. It doesn’t try to be everything — just the right thing. A personal, grounded scent in an industry that usually chases drama. “It’s not meant to sit on your vanity,” Jackson says. “It’s meant to live with you.”

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Breakthrough Chemotherapy Treatment Eliminates Side Effects And Is 20,000 Times Stronger

A team of scientists at Northwestern University has redesigned a weak chemotherapy drug into a powerful, precision-targeted treatment that could dramatically reshape how cancer is treated. In a study published this year, researchers re-engineered a poorly dissolving chemo agent into a nanomedicine that delivers a 20,000-fold increase in potency — without damaging healthy tissue. The findings, described as a major step forward in precision cancer therapy, mark a potentially transformative moment for oncology. “If this translates to human patients, it’s a really exciting advance,” said Chad A. Mirkin, the study’s lead researcher and a professor of chemistry, biomedical engineering, and medicine at Northwestern. “It would mean more effective chemotherapy, better response rates, and fewer side effects. That’s always the goal with any sort of cancer treatment.” A smarter, safer chemo Traditional chemotherapy has long been plagued by its scattershot approach — attacking both cancerous and healthy cells, which leads to harmful side effects. One of the biggest limitations is poor solubility: some drugs are so chemically unstable that less than 1% dissolves in the body, making treatment inefficient and often ineffective. The Northwestern team tackled this by creating a nanoparticle delivery system that keeps the chemotherapy drug stable and directs it to leukemia cells. In lab tests on mice, the drug homed in on cancer cells in the blood and spleen, releasing the payload directly where it was needed. Healthy cells were left largely untouched. “Instead of overwhelming the whole body with chemotherapy, it delivers a higher, more focused dose exactly where it’s needed,” said Mirkin. “Our structural nanomedicine preferentially seeks out the myeloid cells.” AI and nanotech push cancer treatment into a new era This isn’t an isolated breakthrough. Across cancer research, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology are converging to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes. A 2024 MDPI study found that AI can help doctors predict when chemo patients are most likely to experience side effects — giving healthcare teams a chance to intervene early. Another paper, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, pointed to improved tumor targeting and delivery using nanotech, resulting in reduced damage to surrounding tissues and more effective treatment. Researchers are also rethinking how existing drugs are used. A National Library of Medicine study last year found that in cases of gastric cancer, combining targeted immunotherapy with optimized treatment timing led to better results. Rather than inventing new drugs from scratch, scientists are increasingly focused on smarter ways to use the medicines we already have. “Looking ahead, integration of molecular biomarkers, multidisciplinary care, and international collaboration will be key,” the study concluded. A shift in cancer treatment is underway According to a 2025 article in Oxford Academic, targeted therapies and immunotherapies are likely to replace traditional chemo as first-line treatments in many cancers. These therapies are designed to attack specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth — a sharp contrast from the blunt force of standard chemotherapy. The Northwestern study fits squarely into that trend, showing how old drugs can be given new life through precise delivery and molecular redesign. While many of these innovations haven’t yet reached widespread clinical use, researchers say the direction is clear. Multimodal approaches — combining surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and now smarter chemo — are rapidly becoming the standard for comprehensive cancer care. For now, studies like this one offer something rare in cancer treatment: real, tangible hope. “It’s not just about killing cancer,” Mirkin said. “It’s about doing it better, faster, and safer than we ever could before.”

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Spanish Zoo Celebrates Birth Of First Southern White Rhino Calf

A zoo in Spain was celebrating the birth of its very first southern white rhino this week, sharing footage of the long-awaited moment and more videos of the adorable calf and first-time mom Kwanza. BIOPARC Valencia said the birth on Tuesday, November 4, “represents hope” for the near-threatened species that is targeted by poachers hunting for rhino horn. “Both the delivery and the first few hours are progressing normally,” the zoo said. “The mother gives him all the attention he needs and the ‘baby rhinoceros’ is lively.” “The baby got up within minutes of being born and moved around, following its instinct, seeking refuge and warmth from its mother,” the statement continued.

Gary Sinise Helps Turn Abandoned Nashville Church Into a 24-Hour Arts Center For Healing

In Nashville, a boarded-up church once forgotten since 2017 is coming back to life — and this time, it’s for veterans. The man behind the transformation is Richard Casper, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and founder of CreatiVets, a nonprofit that helps veterans heal through the arts. His vision? A 24-hour creative hub where veterans can come when PTSD hits hardest — often late at night, when their only options are bars or isolation. “This will be a place to go when the PTSD hits,” said Casper. “To turn all that pain into something beautiful.” The idea was personal. After losing a close friend in Iraq and suffering a traumatic brain injury himself, Casper struggled to be in public — except when he was listening to live music. That experience shaped CreatiVets, which launched in 2013 and has since helped veterans across the country through songwriting, painting, theater, and sculpture. So when CreatiVets bought the abandoned church earlier this year, it felt like a full-circle moment. But within weeks, it was vandalized. The building had been untouched for six years. The damage, especially to its stained glass windows, felt targeted — a message, Casper feared, that he and the veterans he serves weren’t welcome. “I almost just left,” he said. “It put me in a weird headspace.” But instead, he stayed. And he asked for help. Help came quickly. Within weeks, volunteers — led by CreatiVets’ Art Director Tim Brown — began learning how to make stained glass to repair the windows. Brown said many came not just to give back, but because the creative work had already helped them in their own healing. Actor and veteran advocate Gary Sinise was already a major supporter. His foundation donated $1 million to help purchase the building. Two other donors followed his lead. “In the military, you’re trained to kill, to contain any emotion and be strong,” Sinise said. “Those skills are important in war, but they take a toll. Acting out what you’re going through can be very, very beneficial.” Sinise has championed art therapy for years, inspired in part by his Oscar-nominated role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump and the success of his own Lt. Dan Band. When the new center’s performance space was named in honor of his late son Mac, who died last year after a long battle with cancer, it became even more meaningful. “Mac was a great artist,” Sinise said. “He was a quiet, creative force… If he’d survived, he’d be one of our young leaders here, composing music and helping veterans.” To honor Mac, Casper took pieces of the broken stained glass and turned them into new works inspired by Mac’s music, including tracks like Arctic Circles and Penguin Dance. “I told you we’re going to go above and beyond to make sure everyone knows Mac lived,” Casper said, handing Sinise the handmade panes. “Not that he died, but that he lived.” Sinise, visibly moved, replied, “My gosh, that’s beautiful. I’m honored that we’re going to have this place over there and that Mac is going to be supporting Richard and helping veterans.” One veteran who knows that impact firsthand is David Booth, a retired U.S. Army master sergeant who served 20 years as a medic and counterintelligence agent. After years of declining invitations, Booth finally joined CreatiVets’ songwriting program in September. He flew from Florida to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry to meet with hit songwriters Brian White and Craig Campbell. Together, they wrote What’s Next, a song based on Booth’s experiences — including the 2006 IED blast in Iraq that nearly killed him, the months of rehab, the fused spine, the chronic pain, and the nightmares that still haunt him. Booth also recalled snipers targeting children who surrounded American troops, hoping soldiers would break cover to help. “Things like that stick in my head,” he said. “How do you get them out?” For Booth, music helped more than traditional therapy ever had. “For me, this was more important than the last year and a half of counseling,” he said. “It has been so therapeutic.” Now, he hopes the song will be released on streaming services to reach others who need it. Since 2020, CreatiVets has partnered with Big Machine Label Group — Taylor Swift’s former label — to release songs written by veterans. Sinise says it’s exactly the kind of work more Americans should support. “I think citizens have a responsibility to take care of their defenders,” he said. “One of the ways to do that is through nonprofits like CreatiVets.” The new center in Nashville will be open 24/7 — a safe, creative space for veterans to write, paint, sing, or just sit with others who understand. For Casper, it’s not just about making art. It’s about making sure no one feels alone when the darkness sets in. And with the Mac Sinise Auditorium at its heart, the center will continue to be a place where creativity, connection, and healing can flourish — any hour of the day or night.

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She Was Diagnosed With ADHD At 36 — Now, She's Sharing Her Journey With Millions

Rox was 36 when she found out she had ADHD. It came as both a relief and a revelation. Now 41, the musician from Southampton says the diagnosis transformed the way she sees herself. “It’s like there’s life before and life after,” she told BBC Radio Solent. “I blamed myself and thought I was a bit of an idiot, a bit of a loser, very behind in life.” Before her diagnosis, Rox spent years silently struggling with what she now understands were ADHD symptoms — chronic forgetfulness, a wandering mind, trouble with directions, low motivation for everyday tasks, and a constant feeling of falling short. Things like timekeeping and laundry, she said, felt impossible. “What other people call basic things.” For much of her adult life, Rox says the result was a mix of depression, poor self-esteem, and alcohol use. “The diagnosis was the removal of all that self-blame and hatred,” she said. “It’s led to a much happier and nicer life.” She isn’t the only one who benefited. Her partner, Rich, from Basingstoke, admits he used to get frustrated — particularly when Rox forgot dinner dates or birthdays. “I knew very little about ADHD before,” he said. “But since the diagnosis you just come to accept it. You start to treat things with curiosity rather than judgement.” Together, the couple now run ADHD Love, a fast-growing Instagram account that explores what it’s like to be in a relationship where one partner is neurodivergent and the other is neurotypical. Their honest, often humorous posts have resonated with millions online. The pair have also written books tackling ADHD misconceptions, with chapters named after the labels Rox used to hear — “lazy,” “inconsistent,” “disorganised.” Their message is clear: ADHD isn’t something to “fix.” It’s something to understand. “We’re not trying to fix people,” said Rich. “It’s about acceptance.” Rox says the hardest part is thinking about the time lost before she knew what was going on. “Sometimes it’s sad to look back on all of that unlived life,” she said. “But maybe we didn’t have to give ourselves such a hard time.” That grief is common among adults diagnosed later in life, especially women, who are often overlooked. Rox says she’s encouraged to see more children being supported early. “It’s amazing,” she said. “But for people my age, it’s coming late.” Since her diagnosis, Rox has focused on therapy and embracing what she’s good at: creativity. She continues to perform as a musician and recently spoke ahead of a gig at Southampton’s Guildhall. For her, the diagnosis wasn’t the end of the story. It was a second chance. And if she has one message for others who suspect they may be neurodivergent — or are waiting on a diagnosis — it’s this: “You get to be kind to yourself now.”

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Brave Boy, 4, Overcomes Cancer, Swims For The First Time

For nine months, four-year-old Dzemil wasn’t allowed near a bath, let alone a swimming pool. After being diagnosed with stage four brain cancer shortly after his second birthday, any contact with water carried a dangerous risk of infection — one that could have led to sepsis. “He was just sponge-washed, which was difficult for a two-year-old who likes to splash,” said his mother, Hope. Born with a rare genetic condition, Dzemil’s cancer diagnosis marked the beginning of an intense medical journey: three brain surgeries, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and proton therapy. He’s now in remission, but his doctors have warned the risk of relapse remains high. So when the charity Make-A-Wish offered the family a holiday at Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire, it meant more than just time away — it meant Dzemil could finally go for a swim. “For five days, he could swim to his heart’s content or splash,” said Hope. “I think other visitors must have thought, ‘Are we doing anything else while we’re here?’” The trip gave Dzemil and his six-year-old sister Amal the chance to explore outside of hospitals and treatment rooms. They went on an aerial adventure in the Sherwood Forest woods — an unexpected highlight. “He was quite hesitant at first wearing a harness,” Hope recalled. “But I think him seeing the other children in his group doing it, he started to copy them and then towards the end, it was like watching a different child.” She said the moment moved her to tears. “To see him gaining that confidence, when he was off the ground and walking on a narrow bridge, it was just really nice to see him being able to do that.” For the family, the weeklong break wasn’t just about fun. It was a rare chance to hit pause on the hospital routine and enjoy a stretch of normalcy. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity as a family to make memories,” Hope said. “Just seeing them together, being away from hospital appointments for a week, not having to open any letters from the hospital, and just kind of be a normal family — it was just amazing.”

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‘I Committed Assault – Kindness Saved Me’: How One Man Turned His Life Around After Hitting Rock Bottom

On his 34th birthday, Darren found himself in a police station, alone and terrified. He had just been arrested on suspicion of assault. That moment, he says, was a “massive wake-up call.” “I remember thinking, ‘how has it got to this point?’” he said to BBC News. “I got really panicky and upset, but I also felt this is something I need to address immediately. I was at a dead end.” For Darren — not his real name — the incident wasn’t just a brush with the law. It was the culmination of grief, illness, and a growing sense of hopelessness. He had recently been diagnosed with cancer, and was still reeling from the deaths of several family members. His actions, he says, were rooted in frustration, but he never made excuses. “I knew I’d have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life.” But help came from an unexpected place — inside the police station itself. While he sat alone in custody, a staff member from Plan B, a crime reduction program run by the Sheffield-based charity Causeway, came to speak with him. That conversation changed everything. Plan B works with people who’ve been arrested or come into contact with the criminal justice system. The goal is to break the cycle of reoffending by addressing the root causes, whether that’s addiction, homelessness, mental health struggles, or trauma. Helen Ball, CEO of Causeway, said the charity has helped more than 100 people like Darren over the past year. “Causeway is about supporting people who, for various reasons, find themselves on the wrong pathway,” she said. “That might be because they've been a victim of crime or because they’ve been a perpetrator. It could be a number of other reasons. But our role is to meet that person where they’re at, and walk alongside them until they find the right path to move forward on.” Ball is quick to point out that the real effort comes from the individuals themselves. “Yes, we’ve supported Darren, but so much of it is about them and how they choose to engage with us,” she said. “Despite setbacks and circumstances that have delayed him getting where he wants to be, he hasn’t lost that determination. We’ve been alongside him, but he’s the one who’s done the work.” Now 38, Darren says that support helped him navigate the criminal justice system — he was fined for the offence — and get his life back on track. With Causeway’s help, he found stable housing, a job, and a creative outlet. He started to feel like himself again. “They really helped me get back on my feet when I was at zero,” he said. “I don’t really know what would’ve happened without their intervention, but if I’d carried on the way that I did then, I’d probably either not be here or be somewhere worse.” But the most meaningful change, he says, was getting access to his daughter again. “I’m building that relationship back up, and that’s really been the driving force,” he said. “When I was diagnosed with cancer, the hardest thing wasn’t the treatment — it was not seeing my daughter.” He says having that connection back in his life gives him a reason to keep going, even when things get hard. “Every day is a new day,” Darren said. “And you have to work forwards rather than backwards, or you’ll stay in the past.”

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This Labrador Didn’t Just Help a Veteran Heal — He Saved His Life

After years of waiting, U.S. veteran Hank Ford finally reached out for help. What he got in return was far more than he expected. Ford, 54, is a retired Marine and Army veteran who served for decades before leaving the military in 2009. Like many veterans, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often isolating himself at home and sleeping through most days. Although he was familiar with dogs — he had several hunting dogs over the years — he postponed applying for a service animal until they had passed. It wasn’t until early 2023 that Ford decided he was ready. He contacted Dogs Inc, a nonprofit based in Palmetto, Florida, that provides trained service dogs to veterans and others in need across the United States. The process started with an interview and online classes. Then came a home visit from Amy Bernard, Dogs Inc’s service dog program manager, who traveled to Ford’s home in Fort Lupton, Colorado. “They're an outstanding organization,” Ford said. By September 2023, Bernard found what she believed would be the right match: a Labrador retriever named Tommy. When she introduced the two, it was clear immediately that she was right. “There was an instant bond,” Ford said. “I tell people that Tommy was training me. He knew what to do.” Ford had spent years overwhelmed by public places, unable to regulate his emotions, and often confined to his bed. With Tommy, that started to change. The pair began training together, first during a six-day immersion with Bernard, who guided them through spaces Ford had long avoided. Then, for the next 90 days, they were practically inseparable. “He’s a firecracker. He definitely pays attention to me all the time,” Ford said. “I mean, we’re pretty much the same being now.” With Tommy’s support, Ford found the confidence to step back into the world. He now works part-time at a golf course, spends time building large Lego projects with his wife Mary, and no longer fears the everyday things that once felt insurmountable. But Tommy wasn’t done helping. In February 2025, the Lab woke Ford in the middle of the night, barking and pawing at him with an intensity that was clearly out of the ordinary. “It was like he was panicking,” Ford recalled. Assuming Tommy needed to go outside, Ford opened the door. But the dog stayed beside him and started nudging his chest. That’s when Ford realized something wasn’t right — with himself. His heart was pounding and fluttering. His blood pressure was dropping fast. He rushed to the hospital, where doctors told him he was in the middle of a severe atrial fibrillation episode. Without Tommy’s unexpected alert — which the dog was never trained to do — Ford could have suffered a stroke in his sleep. The diagnosis was sobering. The outcome, if not for Tommy, could have been deadly. “He saved my life again,” Ford later told Bernard. “He’s my hero.” Bernard, who had seen the bond between them from the beginning, wasn’t surprised by the dog’s instinct. “They were an awesome match,” she said. “They just kind of fell in together really nicely, bonded really quickly, and it was a great placement.” She hopes their story helps shift how some veterans view service animals. Too often, she says, veterans dealing with PTSD feel they don’t “deserve” a service dog — that someone else needs it more. “I hear that very often,” she said. “And I just want people to know that they do deserve a dog.” “There are plenty of dogs to go around. You’re not taking someone else’s dog because we might be waiting just for you for this specific dog.” Ford is living proof of that. A man who once stayed in bed to avoid the world now walks into it every day — with Tommy right by his side.

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Danièle Sauvageau Makes History as First Woman Builder in Hockey Hall of Fame

Danièle Sauvageau, a pioneering force in Canadian hockey, is set to make history as the first woman ever inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder — a category reserved for individuals whose off-ice contributions have shaped the game. Sauvageau's influence stretches across every level of hockey, from grassroots to Olympic gold, and her induction marks a milestone decades in the making. Her path from a girl in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec — once barred from playing organized hockey because she wasn’t a boy — to one of the sport’s most respected minds is nothing short of transformational. “She’s touched every level of female hockey — and male hockey, to be honest,” said Marie-Philip Poulin, captain of the Montreal Victoire and a longtime protégé. “She’s always had a strong drive to make sure that we grew female hockey here in Quebec. And for many years, it was difficult.” Now, with the success of the PWHL and the Victoire drawing thousands of fans, Poulin says Sauvageau’s vision has taken root. “It’s pretty incredible.” A Builder in Every Sense There are 119 Builders in the Hockey Hall of Fame, including names like Scotty Bowman, Pat Burns, Gary Bettman, and Lord Stanley. Until now, not one was a woman. Sauvageau’s resume, however, left little room for debate. She led Canada’s women’s national team to Olympic gold in 2002 — the country's first hockey gold in 50 years. She was the first woman to coach in the QMJHL. She founded the Université de Montréal women’s hockey program in 2008. She’s worked as an NHL analyst, an Olympic consultant, and the general manager of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire. And she did it all while working full-time for over three decades as a decorated police officer. “She’s intimidating,” Poulin admitted with a smile. “But she has a soft inside. And that’s something that’s quite a privilege when you get to know her.” A Relentless Advocate Though Sauvageau was never allowed to play in boys’ leagues as a child, she never stopped carving out space for women in the game. From coaching and development to facilities and media, she opened doors that had long been locked shut. “I used to say, ‘I’m not at the right place at the right moment,’” she said, reflecting on a career filled with barriers. “But every time, I was able to just put my foot in … and today, I feel like I was just there at the right time to help.” Her legacy includes not just medals and job titles, but real infrastructure. Most notably, she created Centre 21.02 — a dedicated training facility for elite female hockey players, born in the wake of the CWHL’s collapse. Named after the date of Canada’s gold medal win in Salt Lake City, the centre now draws athletes from around the world. “She created that place for them to be,” said Caroline Ouellette, four-time Olympian and assistant coach of the Victoire. “Now everyone knows how incredible it is.” A Full-Time Role, At Last Until the PWHL launched in 2023, Sauvageau’s hockey leadership was essentially volunteer. She had full-time duties in law enforcement, including work on some of the country’s most traumatic cases: the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting and the 2006 Dawson College attack. Her experience in policing shaped her leadership: structured, composed, and tactical — but always team-oriented. “You don’t know when things are going to happen,” she said. “Are you going to be alone? No, not alone.” That mindset has carried over into her work with Victoire. “She’s not leading alone,” said Kim St-Pierre, former Team Canada goaltender and now the Victoire’s head of business operations. “You can see that everyone has her back and wants to compete and show up for her.” PWHL: A Dream Realized When women’s professional hockey found new life with the PWHL, Sauvageau was immediately at the centre of it. She was named the first general manager of the Montreal Victoire and helped lead the team through a breakout inaugural season — one that included a sold-out 21,000-seat Bell Centre and a surge in young girls registering for hockey. “She knew from day one when that league was going to be created, she was going to be involved,” Poulin said. “It’s no surprise.” Now, just two years after the league’s formation, the PWHL is shattering records — in attendance, sponsorship, and visibility. For Sauvageau, it’s a culmination of 40 years of belief and work. “Even if I’ve been in the game for 40 years, I knew that it could work,” she said. “But as fast as that? It’s unbelievable.” Still Building With women’s hockey now surging in popularity, Sauvageau isn’t stepping back. She’s pushing for more — more rinks, more ice time, more women in coaching roles, and more opportunities for kids to discover hockey like she once did at the outdoor rink in Deux-Montagnes. “She’s opened so many doors,” said St-Pierre. “And Danielle is not done.” Sauvageau says she often asks herself whether she can still contribute — and the answer, so far, is always yes. “Until I can’t,” she said, “there’ll always be that fire to continue.”

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She Launched a Mobile Bookstore, The Thirsty Reader, Bringing Books and Brews Together

As a kid, Becky Davison spent countless hours scouring the shelves of Woozles bookstore in Halifax, armed with $10 from her parents and a love of reading that would never leave her. Now, that childhood joy has become her business model. Davison is the founder of The Thirsty Reader, a mobile bookstore that pops up in pubs and bars across Nova Scotia. Think local brews and local books — all in one stop. “This summer I was working on a project and it failed, and I needed a new project that I’m excited about,” Davison said. “I wanted to start something new. It could be a pop-up.” That idea turned into a bookstore on wheels, complete with novels, biographies, and self-help titles — many of which Davison has personally read. Her first event was at Good Robot, a Halifax brewery known for hosting silent reading nights. “They took a chance on me,” she said, “and let me host my first event.” Since launching in late September, the response has been fast and encouraging. “I’m very impressed with the people who have come out,” Davison said. “People want an excuse to come out. It’s not a networking event. You’re coming out to a pub to have a pint. You get to talk about books.” Her pop-ups feel more like a casual hangout than a bookstore. Patrons flip through titles with a drink in hand and strike up spontaneous conversations about what they’ve read or what they’re looking for next. “There’s a big resurgence of physical books,” Davison said. “There are a lot of people on social media talking about books. It’s good to see bookstores thriving and surviving.” At every stop, she highlights authors from Atlantic Canada, including Lesley Crewe, Jane Doucet, Jessica Ilse, Susan LeBlanc, Michelle Hebert, Matt Thomson, and Keonte Beals. “I predominantly have fiction,” she said. “I have some biographies, some self-help. Predominantly the books I’m showing are books I’ve read.” Her project has already taken her across Halifax and as far as Grand Manan, New Brunswick. With more events lined up through December — including stops at vineyards and cozy pubs — Davison is just getting started. The irony, she admits, is that running a bookstore hasn’t left her much time to actually read. But she’s not complaining. “For me, it’s fun because I get to go to new places, have a pint, read books and meet people,” she said. Looking ahead, Davison hopes to expand The Thirsty Reader into places like Moncton and Cape Breton, and start supplying reading groups as well. For now, she’s happy to bring together strangers over stories — the kind you drink, and the kind you can’t put down.

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