Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
National

Leonardo DiCaprio nominates Prime Minister Stephen Harper to do ice bucket

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Aug, 2014 08:12 AM
    EDMONTON - Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has nominated Prime Minister Stephen Harper to do the ice bucket challenge.
     
    DiCaprio was in northern Alberta last week visiting the oilsands to do research for an environmental documentary.
     
    The Oscar-nominated star of "The Wolf of Wall Street'' posted a video on his Facebook page of him doing the ice bucket challenge with two First Nations chiefs.
     
    Afterward, he called out Harper to do the same.
     
    Harper's press secretary says the prime minister had been already challenged by others last week to either dump a bucket of ice water over his head or make a donation, and he's made a donation to the ALS Association.
     
    The association raises money for Lou Gehrig's disease research and assistance.
     
     
    "The Prime Minister was challenged by others last week and posted the following message on Twitter: @pmharper: Thanks everyone for the #IceBucketChallenge nominations. Laureen & I will be making a donation to support the @ALSassociation," Vallee said in an email to The Canadian Press.
     
    "Obviously, the donation has been made since (to ALS Canada)."
     
    DiCaprio has a long history of involvement with the environment. He sits on the boards of several international conservation organizations and started an environmental charity foundation in 1998.
     
    "Hello from Lake Athabasca, we're here learning about the Canadian tar sands. We took a moment to join the #IceBucketChallenge movement in support of the ALS Association. My friends Chief Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation challenges Dave Collyer, president of Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Chief Courtoreille of the Mikisew Cree First Nation challenges Mark Little of Suncor Canada and The Sierra Club President Michael Brune challenges Shell CEO Ben van Beurden," says the post on DiCaprio's site.
     
    "And me? In addition to a donation from my foundation, I challenge Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper."
     
     
    The controversial oilsands development near Fort McMurray has seen a string of high-profile visitors in recent years.
     
    They include human rights leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, musician Neil Young and Oscar-winning film director James Cameron.
     
    Since the ALS Association began tracking the campaign's progress on July 29, it has raised more than $53.3 million from 1.1 million new donors in what is one of the most viral philanthropic social media campaigns in history.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    New Brunswick legislature to dissolve Thursday ahead of Sept. 22 election

    New Brunswick legislature to dissolve Thursday ahead of Sept. 22 election
    FREDERICTON - New Brunswick Premier David Alward says the province's lieutenant-governor has granted his request to dissolve the legislative assembly Thursday ahead of next month's election.

    New Brunswick legislature to dissolve Thursday ahead of Sept. 22 election

    Tailings Pond Breach : B.C. announces independent investigation panel

    Tailings Pond Breach : B.C. announces independent investigation panel
    VANCOUVER - The B.C. government has appointed a three-member panel to conduct an independent investigation of a massive tailings pond breach at a gold and copper mine.

    Tailings Pond Breach : B.C. announces independent investigation panel

    Health Canada changing labels on controlled release opioids; stressing risks

    Health Canada changing labels on controlled release opioids; stressing risks
    Health Canada has changed the labelling for controlled release opioids in a bid to make clear the risks and safety concerns of the pain medications.

    Health Canada changing labels on controlled release opioids; stressing risks

    Sexual assaults in dorm rooms at Alberta Bible college during freshman weekend

    Sexual assaults in dorm rooms at Alberta Bible college during freshman weekend
    Mounties are looking for a man who is alleged to have sexually assaulted several students at a central Alberta Bible college.

    Sexual assaults in dorm rooms at Alberta Bible college during freshman weekend

    Study estimates 36% of Canadian businesses know they've been hit by cyber attack

    Study estimates 36% of Canadian businesses know they've been hit by cyber attack
    More than one-third of Canada's IT professionals know — for sure — that they'd had a significant data breach over the previous 12 months that could put their clients or their organizations at risk, a cybersecurity study suggests.

    Study estimates 36% of Canadian businesses know they've been hit by cyber attack

    Health minister denies feds' anti-pot campaign aimed at Justin Trudeau

    Health minister denies feds' anti-pot campaign aimed at Justin Trudeau
    Health Minister Rona Ambrose denies the federal government's marijuana awareness campaign is aimed at Justin Trudeau.

    Health minister denies feds' anti-pot campaign aimed at Justin Trudeau