https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/why-18-year-old-canadian-emily-nash-is-sharing-her-unique-brain-with-science-1.6818765 Skip to main content [CTVNewsLog] Live CTV.ca W5 * Search CTVNews.ca [ ] Search NEWS + o o Canada o World o Opinion o War in Ukraine o Politics o o o Inflation o W5 o Health o Climate and Environment o Sci-Tech o o o Entertainment o Lifestyle o Business o Sports o Real Estate o o o Israel-Hamas War o Aging in Canada o Weather o Autos o Nanos on the Numbers o o o Newsletters o Local Spotlight o Photo Galleries o Happening Now o COVID in Canada * VIDEO + Video Hubs o o CTV News o Atlantic o Barrie o Calgary o Entertainment o o o Edmonton o Kitchener o London o Montreal o Northern Ontario o o o Ottawa o Regina o Saskatoon o Toronto o Vancouver o o o Vancouver Island o Windsor o Winnipeg + SHOWS o o CTV National News o Power Play o Question Period o W5 + LIVE o o CTV News LIVE o CTV News App o Video Help o Voice Assistant Help * LOCAL + o o Atlantic o Barrie o Calgary o Edmonton o Guelph o o o Kingston o Kitchener o Lethbridge o London o Montreal o o o Nanaimo o Newfoundland and Labrador o Northern Ontario o Ottawa o Pembroke o o o Prince Albert o Red Deer o Regina o Saskatoon o Sault Ste. Marie o o o Toronto o Vancouver o Vancouver Island o Windsor o Winnipeg * SHOWS + News Programs o o CTV National News o Power Play o QP o W5 * ABOUT + SECTIONS o o Editorial Standards and Policies o Search CTV News o About Bell Media o CTV News App o CTV News Stox o o o CTV News Channel o CTV Schedule o Podcasts o Social + Bios o o CTV National News Team o CTV News Digital Team o CTV News Channel o W5 Team * Shopping Trends + Sections o o Gifts o Tech o Fashion o Beauty o Health & Fitness Search CTVNews.ca [ ] Search W5 Why 18-year-old Canadian Emily Nash is sharing her unique brain with science Share An 18-year-old from near Ottawa has become what appears to be the first Canadian, and among the youngest people in the world, to have a rare but extraordinary super memory. Emily Nash learned she has highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM) after being tested by researchers in the U.S. She now jokingly calls it her "superpower," relieved to learn that the trait she tried to hide was actually a verifiable phenomenon. "I just felt so much relief knowing that I'm not alone, that it's not something I made up. It's something that actually exists," she told CTV W5 in an exclusive interview. * Watch the latest W5 investigations Emily is a straight-A student. In her last year of high school, she is decidedly composed and modest about her skill. But she now joins a small and unique tribe of about 100 people confirmed with HSAM around the world. For most of us, memories fade with time. Ask anyone to tell you what happened on Oct. 21, 2021 and you will usually be met with a lengthy pause as they struggle to recall events of that day. But ask Emily and the response comes within seconds, with precision. "October 21, 2021? Oh, the Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting. That was a Thursday," she quickly responded. March 4, 2019? "Luke Perry died," she stated, noting she never watched the actor's show, but rather just heard about his passing. " My mom took me home for lunch, and I remember in the car we had the radio on and they said Luke Perry passed away." That is all it took for her to remember this detail four-and-a-half years later. [emily-nash]Emily Nash said her memories are filed in a mental calendar, in video form (CTV W5) Emily said her memories are filed in a mental calendar, in video form. "Each day kind of represents a little movie, where I can rewind and fast forward and replay various points throughout my day," she said. Her parents, Jason Nash and Julie Farnworth, said they spotted Emily's uncanny recall as a young child. Her father, Jason, said he would show Emily a series of coloured bowling pins for about 10 seconds and then spin her around, asking her to name the order they were in. "She would knock them off right away in terms of identifying every pin, in terms of, you know, red, yellow, green, blue," he said. Her mother, Julie, discovered Emily -- at age five -- could watch a Peanuts cartoon and then recall and repeat the dialogue from any point in the episode. "We knew that at that point in time there was something going on with her memory, but we couldn't quite pinpoint what it was like. So we thought we should just let it develop a little more naturally on its own to try and figure out what it is," Julie said. They finally figured it out, coincidentally, on Remembrance Day 2021. * The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App * Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips As Julie was designing a tombstone for her parents, she was asked by the headstone designer for specific dates of their births and marriage. Julie joked that she would contact "Wikipedia" -- the family pet name for Emily -- who rapidly texted back all the correct dates. That's when the headstone designer suggested Emily might have the same sort of unusual memory first documented in a "60 Minutes" program from 2010, featuring American actress Marilu Henner. The Broadway star and main character of the 1970s sitcom "Taxi" revealed she has a super autobiographical memory for dates and events. "It was a jaw-dropping moment when I realized the similarities," said Julie, after watching the documentary program. That's when the pointed questions to their daughter began. "We said, 'well, can you name the day of the week? Can you go back, you know, a year and tell us exactly what you did on that date? You know, what were you wearing? What did you eat?' She was able to explain all those things," said Jason. For Emily, it was validation that she wasn't, as she puts, it "weird." "Knowing that other people have it in the world, I just felt so much relief knowing that I'm not alone," she said. [emily-nash]Emily Nash was formally tested by scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago, and by Carmen Westerberg, a psychology and sleep researcher at Texas State University (CTV W5). Emily was then formally tested by scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago, and by Carmen Westerberg, a psychology and sleep researcher at Texas State University. The test usually involves giving someone random dates, asking them to specify the day of the week, personal experiences, along with verifiable events around that time. But because Emily is among the youngest the team had assessed, they had to adjust the screening questions to adapt to the life experiences of a teen. "That was one thing that stuck out," said Westerberg. Any time we asked her a pop culture question, she was all over it, but she didn't have as much knowledge about world events." CTV W5 was able to film a sample test, where Emily was asked about a variety of dates, starting with Nov. 26, 2021. "That was a Friday," said Emily. "Do you recall a verifiable event from around that time?" asked Westerberg. "Let's see," said Emily, who then amazingly rattled off a comprehensive list. "A Netflix film called 'Tick, Tick Boom' was released on Nov. 10th, 2021. "'The House of Gucci,' released Nov. 24th, 2021. "'West Side Story' -- that came in theaters Dec. 3rd, I'm pretty sure, 2021," she said. She was 100 percent correct. When Emily was asked if she wanted researchers to help understand HSAM to see if it might unlock clues to help those with memory loss, she didn't hesitate. She lives with the memory of watching two of her grandparents suffer because of dementia. " I want to help in the best way possible with my memory," said Emily. Super memory as a way of tackling memory loss Scientists only began studying HSAM in 2006. They have confirmed it's not related to IQ and that those with superior memory don't use tricks to remember. It is found more often in people with obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), though in Emily's case her mother confirms her only obsession is her school work. The most intriguing discovery of people with HSAM, say scientists, is that their memories don't decay like the vast majority of people. "They're not really taking in more information. It's just that they are not forgetting it like most people do." said Westerberg. In a world where there are an estimated 10 million people a year developing memory loss linked to dementia and Alzheimers, HSAM is a "juicy phenomenon," according to Giuliana Mazzoni, a researcher at the University of Rome. Mazzoni is studying the phenomenon in a group of Italians with HSAM because of the intriguing lessons they may hold. Westerberg agrees, saying, "If we can figure out what's going right with memory, maybe we can help with what's going wrong." Mazzoni is among a group of scientists who are trying to identify the regions of the brain that appear more active in those with highly superior autobiographical memory. Her early work suggested more grey matter in parts of the brain along with a higher emphasis on visual recording of daily events. There are also tests starting to apply what's being learned. A group of patients with early Alzheimer's disease are receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation, targeting the circuit identified in HSAM as part of a trial at the University of Perugia and University of Trento. The question: will the signals improve patients memory? [the-experi]The experiment is led by Prof. Costanza Papagno, professor of neurology at the University of Trento (Photo courtesy of Costanza Papagno) Emily's sleep The study that Emily has signed up for has her putting on her pajamas. In a sleep laboratory in the basement of a building on the campus of Texas State University, in Austin, a technician glues sensors to her head and chest for an overnight sleep study. It's all in the name of dementia research. Sleep is where scientists believe memories are cemented into the brain. Westerberg and colleagues at Northwestern University in Chicago have been probing how sleep might help those with superior autobiographical memory. The team is about halfway through a study comparing 12 adults with HSAM against 24 normal controls. Emily is patient number nine. Both groups, says Westerberg, sleep about the same total time. But those with HSAM differ in one important area -- sleep spindles. * Top science and technology headlines, all in one place On an electroencephalogram (EEG), the test used to track brain waves during sleep, spindles look like random, tiny, jagged lines along the otherwise smooth brain signals of early sleep. But this pattern is how some scientists think our brains synchronize memories and deposit them for future use. As Westerberg compares the results, she says she is finding people with HSAM have more sleep spindles, almost double, than people with normal memory, along with an unusual pattern with the early slow ways of sleep. She calls it "exciting." "This is suggesting that maybe they are consolidating their memories of what happened to them during the day more strongly or more efficiently than other people, which could help explain why they're not forgetting as much," Westerberg said. Her study will be completed later in 2024, but it does raise some tantalizing possibilities. People with cognitive decline and dementia have often troubled sleep and, interestingly, disrupted or abnormal sleep spindles and slow wave phase sleep patterns. So could helping restore normal sleep and those spindles improve their memories? Westerberg points to studies that show some sleep medications have been shown to increase spindles, and slow wave sleep. "By getting better sleep and, in particular, you know, these slow oscillations linked with the sleep spindles...maybe that could improve memory," she said. The road forward for a girl who can't forget As soon as Emily returned from testing in Austin, she began to receive acceptance from every university program to which she applied. Her plan is a career in scientific research. "I'm thinking either like biomedical science, biotechnology," she said. Emily has another shorter term goal. That is to meet others with this "gift." While HSAM has its benefits, there is a serious drawback. Those with superior memory remember the good, but they will also never forget the bad. They feel the pain as if it were today. Some with HSAM struggle with anxiety and depression as a result. While Emily hasn't yet suffered much rejection or loss, she's felt the sting of the past hurts. "It's like I just re-lived them 5 minutes ago. So it can be difficult for me to push through," said Emily. That's why Julie, a psychiatric nurse, is putting great effort into coaching her daughter on how to manage that burden. "I've tried to teach her that everybody has heartbreak. That is part of life," said Julie. "There will be breakups, and she has to expect that, and it's part of our growth." But it worries Julie. "I won't lie. Sometimes it does keep me up at night thinking,....how will it be for her? I don't think any of us can quite conceptualize what it will be like for her" she said. * 5 Things to Know newsletter: Sign up to start your day with the top stories Markie Pasternak said she can understand Emily's situation, perfectly. The 29-year-old from Minneapolis discovered she had HSAM while sitting in a university class, discussing the power of memory and posting blogs on her website, Living with Total Recall. Pasternak has met three others with HSAM. Emily is her fourth. "I think it's courageous. I think it's courageous to take that step, to admit that you have this," said Pasternak of Emily's decision to go public. They chatted for about half-an-hour by Zoom as Emily, clearly happy to meet someone from her unusual tribe, asked a raft of questions. "How does your memory work? Like, mine's like a calendar," she said. Markie described hers as more of a board game. "Each day is different, like square and like, they're different colors, and it kind of zig zags around. It's almost like I can go forward and backwards," she said. "Do you let people know that you have HSAM or do you wait until it's brought up?" asked Emily. "With friendships and acquaintances and stuff or work, even, I just wait until it comes up, and it usually does," responded Markie, warning that there is a vulnerability to allowing people to ask her to pull up memories. Some may bring happiness, others, sharp pain. "It's like my most precious gem, my like, most ... sacred thing to me," said Markie, describing her memories. "And I'm going to open up to you and you can ask me any day in my life and I'm going to tell you what I did that day." Another question: "Does your brain ever stop thinking? Or is your brain just flying with memories like 24-7?" asked Emily. "My default was always just reminiscing, nostalgia," said Markie, who added she copes by journaling. "I've learned to compartmentalize (and) have worked on my own mental health, too, and my own personal boundaries with that," she said. The most important advice she offered Emily is that if you can't forget, you need to cultivate forgiveness. "Everyone gets hurt by other people at some point because we're all human. And most people, again, they have their forgetfulness to kind of ease that and move on," said Markie. "We don't have that. And so we have to rely so hard on the virtue of forgiveness and recognizing that people are human and they make mistakes." Think you have HSAM? Test it out While there are only about 100-200 verified cases of HSAM in the world, scientists suspect there are many more. Prof. Valerio Santangelo, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Perugia in Italy, has calculated that theoretically 0.01 per cent of the population could have a highly superior autobiographical memory. That could mean 700,000 people around the world who fit the criteria but have not been formally tested. Part of this may be because there have been few scientists studying this form of memory, and has to be culturally and age appropriate. In Emily's case, researchers at Northwestern University and The University of Texas, Austin, had to make questions appropriate for an 18-year-old who prefers movies and music to world affairs. While there is no online screening tool, Dr. James McGaugh, a now retired professor emeritus at the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine, who helped discover HSAM, told CTV's W5 that people can start with their own screening test. They begin by selecting well-known events and asking the person for the date and the day of the week when the event occurred. They can also randomly select a day or date, and ask for verifiable events around that date. He added that "it is critically important to emphasize that HSAM is a strong ability to recall autobiographical experiences, along with the day and dates." In creating questions, the advice is to use events that are noteworthy and that occurred after the test subject was about 15 years old. For example: Day and Date of Super Bowl in 2015? Answer: Feb. 1. Day and Date of Canadian Thanksgiving in 2017? Answer: Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Or you can ask, what event occurred Feb 1, 2015? Answer: The Superbowl. Researchers use something called the "10 Date Quiz," using randomly selected dates, picked by an online calculator like this one. Test subjects get a point for identifying the event, the day of the week, the month and the year. Individuals were asked to provide three different categories of information for each of the 10 dates generated: (1) the day of the week; (2) a description of a verifiable event that could be confirmed via an online search (3) a description of a personal autobiographical event the individual participated in. That's a maximum of three possible points per date and 30 total. The percentage scored for each category (date/day/event) as well as the total score, the average of all three categories, was calculated. A total score of 65 per cent indicates that a person is likely to have HSAM and would merit further testing by researchers at a center studying this autobiographical memory. 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Toronto * [image] Elon Musk's X to pay legal bills for Canadian doctor chastised over COVID-19 tweets Elon Musk's X said it's funding legal bills for a Canadian doctor previously chastised by regulators for her tweets about COVID-19. * Toronto playground dog attack leaves child with life-altering injuries A 9-year-old child suffered serious, life-altering injuries after being bitten and dragged by a dog in a waterfront playground Saturday morning, Toronto police said. * Two arrests at demonstration in midtown Toronto Two arrests were made at a demonstration in midtown Toronto on Sunday, police say. Calgary * [image] Southcentre Mall hosts special Sensory Easter Sunday Around 100 families beat the rush to Southcentre Mall Sunday in order to participate in the shopping centre's popular Sensory Easter event. * New exhibit at The Military Museums in Calgary pays tribute to the Great Escape Many late-night TV watchers have heard of or even seen the movie The Great Escape. Now, thanks to a new exhibit from Calgary's Military Museums, fans of the film can learn the true story that inspired the movie. * Tatertots rejoice: Calgarian McRae takes home first 2 Junos in Saturday night industry ceremony Calgary pop superstar Tate McRae has had a great Juno Awards even before Sunday night's nationally-televised ceremony. Ottawa * [image] Firefighters extinguish 3-alarm fire at Bank Street pharmacy in the Glebe Ottawa Fire Services says no injuries were reported after a fire broke out at a pharmacy along Bank Street in the Glebe Sunday morning. * 3 taken to hospital, including child, in Orleans car crash Emergency services responded to a two-vehicle crash that sent three people to hospital in Orleans on Sunday morning. * Open air fire ban in effect for city of Ottawa Ottawa residents will not be permitted to have campfires or use outdoor fireplaces starting on Sunday. Montreal * [image] The 'carbon tax' did not provoke police intervention at Montreal food bank: experts The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) suggestion that there is a link between a police intervention in a Montreal food bank and the "carbon tax" is being criticized with many involved with the situation. * Residents in Hudson, Que. angered that beach access blocked New signs sprung up in the area around Hudson, Que.'s 'Sandy Beach' that say: 'Private Property. Do Not Enter,' angering residents who no longer have access to the prized spot along the water. * This trans-coloured bike custom built in Montreal took top prize in major trade show The young framebuilding bike shop in Montreal Memento Cycles took home the top prize at the Philly Bike Expo for a bike painted in the trans flag colours with hopes of broadening representation in the industry. Edmonton * [image] Alberta scientists band together to shift climate change focus to health impacts Bodies and minds are just as affected by climate change as sea ice and forests, says University of Alberta scientist Sherilee Harper. * RCMP warn Albertans over new scam aimed at drivers Red Deer RCMP are warning of a new text message scheme involving speeding tickets. * 'It warms your heart': Families enjoy inclusive Easter egg hunt Sunday Families and local law enforcement officers teamed up for an accessible Easter egg hunt Sunday. Atlantic * [image] Plenty of power outages as a result of Sunday storm Power outages were stacking up as many parts of the Maritimes were battered with rain, wind, and heavy snow on Sunday morning. * Maritime comedian set to appear in Canada's Got Talent A Maritime comedian will soon be on a national platform in hopes of bringing some laughs to some judges. * 'That's Isla': 10-year-old Nova Scotian girl starts podcast out of passion A 10-year-old girl from Nova Scotia has started a project which follows a topic which she holds close to her heart. Winnipeg * [image] Police arrest man for stealing from multiple grocery stores, assaulting security and staff Winnipeg police have arrested a man for stealing from grocery stores over two dozen times. * Two Manitobans collect awards at the Junos A pair of Manitobans walked away with some hardware at the Juno awards Saturday night. * Winnipeg Easter egg hunt: How one mom is getting a city involved in finding Easter eggs A Winnipeg mom is working to spread joy this Easter by getting the entire city involved in an Easter egg hunt. Regina * [image] One dead in Regina house fire, coroner investigating Regina fire and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service are investigating after a body was recovered from an early morning house fire. * Regina Pats finish season with 11-1 loss against Moose Jaw The Regina Pats finished off their 2023-24 season not with a bang, but with a whimper -- losing 11-1 to the Moose Jaw Warriors. * 'Positive impact on the community': Province tackling problem of vacant social housing units The provincial government is tackling the problem of vacant social housing units. Kitchener * [image] Vehicle drives into river, investigation remains ongoing Waterloo regional police are investigating a single motor vehicle collision in Kitchener. * 'It's not just a sport, it's a family': Alumni Field hosts flag football championships University flag football players from across Ontario came together to vie for the title as Laurier University hosted the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association championship weekend. * Bright, Ont. woman treks up Mt. Kilimanjaro to promote kidney donation awareness Mary McFarlane is happy to be home after her two week long trip in Tanzania. Saskatoon * [image] Saskatoon drivers could soon see more commercial billboards on Circle Drive Saskatoon councillors are considering axing a 2018 policy that limits the number of commercial billboards on busy public roadways. * Saskatoon black-owned businesses gather in first-ever expo Saskatoon's black community gathered at Prairieland Park for the first-ever black business expo on Saturday. * Saskatoon celebrates pop culture with second annual event Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings. If it's been in a movie, a comic book, or a video game it was likely on display Saturday at the Saskatoon pop culture celebration. Northern Ontario * [image] Timmins fire crews continue to battle blaze at Empire Complex Fire crews are still working to put out the blaze at the historic Empire Complex building in Timmins, Ont. * TOTAL RECALL TOTAL RECALL | Why 18-year-old Canadian Emily Nash is sharing her unique brain with science CTV W5 puts the spotlight on 18-year-old Emily Nash, who appears to be the first Canadian, and among the youngest people in the world, to have a rare but extraordinary super memory. * Short season on Ontario southern ice road makes First Nation life unpredictable This winter marked the shortest ice road season anyone can remember on Temagami First Nation. London * [image] Another day, another car into a building in London, Ont. A nonagenarian did not need medical care after her vehicle crashed into the front of a Tim Horton's in northwest London Sunday afternoon. * Arrest made in Sarnia stabbing incident A Sarnia man has been charged after members of the Sarnia Police Service Operations Division responded to an altercation at the River City Vineyard, located at 260 Mitton St. N. * 'It's a tragedy': Climate activist wants Harris Park trees saved, but City going ahead with erosion project A university climate activist held a small protest Sunday at Harris Park, in hopes of saving centuries-old trees in downtown London, Ont. Barrie * [image] Group of Wasaga Beach residents waiting to learn if power will be disconnected A group of Wasaga Beach residents are on edge as they wait to learn if power at the hotel they call home will be shut off on Monday. * Annual Holi celebrations held in Barrie Barrie's Indian community celebrated the festival of Holi on Sunday. * Simcoe County's jewish community celebrates the Purim holiday Sunday marked the Jewish holiday of Purim, and synagogues throughout Simcoe County hosted services and parties. Windsor * [image] Stellantis defeats Ford in first Automotive Cup charity hockey game in Windsor Having worked at the Windsor Assembly Plant for 28 years, Bruce Qubinec knows there's a clear rivalry between Stellantis and Ford workers in Windsor -- and a good ol' fashioned hockey game is the perfect way to settle the score. * Fire crews tackle garage fire in east Chatham Chatham-Kent firefighters attended the scene of a detached garage fire Saturday evening. * Windsor athletes win big in combat sports competitions across North America Young athletes from Windsor, Ont. are celebrating massive victories in combat sport tournaments across Canada and the U.S. Vancouver Island * [image] Michael Dunahee investigation remains open, active 33 years after disappearance: Victoria police On the 33rd anniversary of Michael Dunahee's disappearance, the Victoria Police Department says the missing person's investigation remains active. * Beached orca on northern Vancouver Island dies after rescue effort Despite the best efforts of local residents to rescue it, a killer whale that got stuck on shore in a remote area of northern Vancouver Island has died. * B.C. court rules on real estate dispute stretching back to 1960s transaction A dispute over a real estate transaction that began more than 60 years ago has been resolved in B.C. Supreme Court. Kelowna * [image] 'Absolutely worth it': Meet the B.C. woman who paid $50,000 to clone her dead cat Kris Stewart has her hands full with two rambunctious, 10-week-old kittens after cloning her beloved cat Bear. * B.C. funds nearly 600 new affordable rental homes in the Interior, North The latest funding to flow through British Columbia's Community Housing Fund will add nearly 600 rental homes to communities in the Interior and northern B.C. * 'Potential fraudsters' may be collecting money for fake charity, Kelowna RCMP warn Mounties in Kelowna are warning members of the public of "potential fraudsters" they say are collecting money for a charity that may not exist. Lethbridge * [image] Hurricanes wrap up regular season on winning note,defeating Tigers 4-3 in OT The Hurricanes wrapped up their regular season on a winning note Saturday night, defeating the Tigers 4-3 in overtime in a game played in Medicine Hat, Alta. * Hurricanes drop 3-2 overtime decision to Tigers in final regular-season home game The Lethbridge Hurricanes lost their final home game of the 2023-24 regular season, dropping a 3-2 decision to Medicine Hat in overtime Friday night. * Former Medicine Hat police chief suing city, current top cop, officers After a 25-year career with the Calgary Police Service, Mike Worden was sworn in as Medicine Hat's top cop in January 2021. Sault Ste. Marie * [image] Trucking company, director fined $140K for violating Environmental Protection Act A trucking company based in Alberta has been fined $125,000 for environmental offences in northwestern Ontario that date back to 2021. * OPP officer shoots man holding 'edged weapon' in Thessalon The province's Special Investigations Unit is probing an altercation in Thessalon, Ont. on Friday night where a man has survived a police shooting and is now in stable condition at a hospital. * What should be the official bird of Sault Ste. Marie? Sault Ste. Marie hasn't quite "gone to the birds" but it is looking to become a "bird-friendly city." N.L. * [image] N.L. fishermen declare victory, head home after protests in St. John's Fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are declaring victory in their negotiations with the provincial government, and are heading home after a recent protest that brought out riot police in St. John's. * Fish protesters meet riot police outside N.L. legislature, budget delivered in half-empty assembly Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial government delivered its annual budget to a half-empty legislature Thursday, as opposition politicians boycotted the speech and protesters stared down riot police outside. * Newfoundland struggling to recruit oncologists despite big signing bonus Despite a brand new hospital and a hefty signing bonus, health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador still haven't recruited the oncologists they need for an expanded cancer care program on the province's west coast. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. 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