OTTAWA - Socialites decked out in their finest gowns and tuxedos may be in for a surprise at the annual Valentine's Day Ball when they sit down to a sumptuous meal of hamburgers, pogo sticks and grilled cheese sandwiches.

But while at first glance the menu may not appear fit for a major fundraising gala for the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum or worth the $250 ticket, executive chef Georges Laurier insists his choice of premium ingredients and playful presentation will definitely be haute cuisine.

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CALGARY - On a chilly December morning almost six weeks ago, Diane and Les McIntyre were found sleeping in a dark alleyway in the Beltline, laying on a thin foam mat and cuddling under sleeping bags to keep warm.

Now, after seven years of homelessness, they finally have a place of their own - thanks to an effort by the Calgary Homeless Foundation and local service agencies to take people off the street and put them into housing.

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CALGARY - People who selflessly stuff envelopes, stack food bank shelves and drive countless kilometres to help others should get the same tax benefit as people who crack open their wallets for a cause, say volunteer groups.

They're calling on the federal government to consider bringing in a tax break for volunteers something they say would be a recognition that donating time is just as valuable as donating funds.

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Ginger, a Belgian gelding, and Sharlot, a Belgian quarter horse, both in their 30s, were calèche horses that were retired as part of the city's long-range plan to reduce the number of horse-drawn vehicles in Old Montreal.

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