The Oprah Winfrey Show to cease production in 2011 The media mogul is rumoured to be moving on to bigger and more lucrative projects. By Kristina Mameli, News Editor ne of the most watched television shows in history will cease production in 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show will draw to a close of September 9, 2011, a day that will mark the 25" anniversary to the day of when the show first aired, the talk show diva announced Friday. The icon urged her legions of fans to watch closely in the next 18 months—the Oprah Winfrey show is slated to have one hell of a farewell season. In a press release, Winfrey’s Harpo Inc. said that when the show ends production in 2011, she “plans to appear and participate in new programming” for the L.A.-based Oprah Winfrey Network, on cable in partnership with Discovery Communications, replacing the Discovery Health Channel. It is set to launch in January 2011. The 55-year-old Winfrey is in no danger of disappearing from the world of media. Her empire includes not only the new network, but a syndicated satellite radio show, and a magazine as well, the latest edition featuring her and fellow talk show powerhouse Ellen Degeneres. Winfrey was born in Mississippi to a single mother. She became a highly respected journalist in Nashville and Baltimore eventually moving to Chicago in 1984 where she became the host of her own morning show one year later. She soon established her own production company and the show went into syndication. She is also an Oscar-nominated actress, for her supporting role in the 1985 film adaptation of The Color Purple. The term “the Oprah effect” summarizes the effect that Winfrey has on any product, be it a book, movie, album, gadget or presidential candidate that is featured on her show — instant and unparalleled success. Not to mention the influence of her rallying cries for causes and issues. Her show is seen in more than 140 countries and is viewed 42 million times per week in the U'S. alone. According to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is worth $2.7 billion. Equality oF | * oP oa Women ski jumpers’ appeal denied once again in B.C. court Lindsey Van and Katie Willis Tanya Colledge staff reporter fter nearly three years of battling with the Avensis Olympic Committee (IOC) and the B.C. courts to overthrow their decision to exclude their sport, women’s ski jumping, from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the athletes and their supporters left the courtroom stunned as their appeal was dismissed yet again. Ski jumping, being the only Olympic sport restricted to men, ignited the feud between the female athletes of the sport and the IOC, claiming that not letting them participate in the Games was a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The women had asked the court for a declaration that unless the women could compete, the men’s competition should be cancelled. The IOC however, in addition to not being subject to the Charter and therefore cannot be forced to hold the women’s event, said the sport had not yet met necessary requirements and could not be included as a sport in this years’ Winter Games. The female ski jumpers, lead by Women’s Ski Jumping USA, could now seek to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but lawyer Ross Clark who represents the 14 athletes said that with the Games being only three months away, such an appeal would require overcoming many hurdles. Dick Pound, Canada’s IOC representative said that even if the IOC decided to put on an event for women’s ski jumping, the committee would not recognize the results or hand out any medals to the athletes. Furthermore, holding such an event would eliminate any chance of Canada hosting any other major sporting event. As it stands, the IOC has said that the sporting event will not be recognized as an Olympic sport until it has fully matured— predicting the 2014 Sochi Games as its potential Olympic debut. Women’s ski jumping will, however, be included in the first Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012. News Shorts By Kristina Mameli Debit card scam in Vancouver Thousands of residents across Metro Vancouver have had their bank accounts drained by a potentially deadly debit card scam, affecting customers at a number of different financial institutions. Unfortunately, it’s not a new story. For years, criminals have replaced legitimate card reading devices with fake ones that record pin numbers, resulting in the loss of thousands. It is something that has baffled RCMP and frustrated both customers and bankers alike. It’s not known whether organized crime gangs or individuals are behind the thefts. In order not to run the risk of compromising an ongoing police investigation and to protect merchants who are also potential victims, customers are not being told where their cards were compromised. But sadly, not even law enforcement is immune. Kathryn Hardy, a member of the BC Crime Prevention Association lost $1,600 from her account. She was later reimbursed by her bank. Vancouver Island floods Heavy rain and a subsequent flood forced the evacuation of many homes in the low-lying parts of Duncan, B.C. Friday, an hour north of Victoria. A few schools and upwards of 300 homes had to be evacuated in the municipality of North Cowichan. More than 27,000 residents found themselves in a state of emergency when the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers spilled from their banks. No one was hurt in the flood, and homeowners in the Comox Valley Regional District, Nanaimo Regional District, Cowichan Valley Regional District and Strathcona Regional District will be eligible for government assistance to help deal with the damage, according to a news release from the B.C. solicitor general. Bell Canada cuts system access fee Bell Canada quietly did away with its system access fee Friday, finally matching rivals Rogers and Telus, though the company decided not to openly announce it. The $6.95 fee has been discontinued on all new plans and existing customers have the option to continue paying the fee on their current plan or switch to a new one. The move means that no national carrier is charging the fee. The company has also exempted Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and Newfoundland and Labrador from the monthly 911 fee. It remains approximately 53 cents in other provinces. The only major downfall of the move is that Bell, like its rivals, has upped the price of most monthly plans by $5, for a net savings of only $1.95—likely why the company didn’t shout the move from the rooftops.