Author: Sophie Mitchell

TORONTO — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has set the date for a mandatory inquest into the death of Martin Gordyn, a 27-year-old man who died in January 2021 following an interaction with the Niagara Regional Police Service. The proceeding, announced Friday by the Ministry of the Solicitor General, will begin December 1, 2025, and is expected to run for seven days. Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Hamilton Office, confirmed the schedule and key appointments for the inquest, which will be held entirely by video conference. “Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region,…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The City of Prince Albert’s Budget Committee has completed its three-day deliberation process for the 2026 municipal budget, reducing the amount required from property taxes after a detailed examination of departmental spending and cost pressures across the organization. The committee began its review with an initial projected taxation requirement of $4,422,153. Following internal adjustments, targeted reductions and policy discussions, that figure has been lowered by $1,112,686 to $3,309,467, representing a significant shift aimed at easing the financial burden on local residents. City officials said the reduction reflects months of internal scrutiny as departments confronted cost pressures…

Canada’s skeleton program opened its World Cup campaign with a strong showing on the newly built Olympic track in Cortina, Italy, where Hallie Clarke and Jane Channell both delivered top-15 results in the first major international test of the season. Clarke, 20, led the Canadian contingent with a sixth-place finish, demonstrating consistency on a course that will host the skeleton events at the upcoming 2026 Winter Games. Channell, a two-time Olympian, secured 15th place, closing out a performance that underscored both the experience and emerging depth within Canada’s women’s skeleton team. “I’m really happy with how I’ve started this year.…

TORONTO — Ontario students will receive new standardized Remembrance Day learning resources beginning in 2026, as the province moves to strengthen classroom instruction and ensure consistent commemoration practices across its publicly funded schools. The Ministry of Education announced Friday that it will roll out a suite of curriculum supports and classroom tools over the next year, aimed at helping teachers deliver more comprehensive lessons on Canada’s military history and the significance of Nov. 11. The initiative, unveiled in a formal statement from Education Minister Paul Calandra, is positioned as part of the province’s ongoing effort to reinforce civic understanding and…

Ontario is moving ahead with a major restoration and redevelopment effort at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, committing $4.75 million to repair extensive storm damage and turn the popular Mattawa-area destination into a four-season tourism draw. The provincial government announced the investment Friday, describing the project as both an economic boost for nearby communities and a long-term plan to modernize a park severely hit by a destructive downburst storm in June. The site has remained closed since the event, which toppled thousands of trees, damaged infrastructure and forced the evacuation of roughly 300 visitors. “The storm was one of the…

The City of Cambridge is renewing its partnership with the Salvation Army this holiday season by providing free space for the organization’s annual Toy Mountain toy drive, a program that supplies thousands of local children with gifts each Christmas. Municipal officials say the arrangement reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to supporting community-based social services, particularly during a period of heightened need. The city announced Friday that the first floor of the Preston Scout House has been made available at no cost to the Salvation Army for use as its 2025 toy donation and distribution hub. The location will serve as…

The Ontario government is opening provincewide consultations for its 2026 budget, launching an outreach effort officials say will help shape the next phase of the province’s economic and fiscal strategy. The initiative, announced Friday, invites workers, families and business groups to share their priorities as the government develops a plan focused on competitiveness, resilience and long-term growth. The consultations build on measures outlined in the 2025 Fall Economic Statement and mark the earliest stage of the annual budget cycle. With global economic uncertainty continuing to weigh on provincial planning, the government says public feedback will play a central role in…

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has confirmed its board leadership for the coming year, reappointing Chair Mark Baker and electing Vice-Chair Mark Vonesch during its inaugural meeting on November 19. The annual selection of board leadership, mandated under provincial legislation, sets the tone for regional governance as the district continues to navigate priorities tied to community resilience, service delivery and reconciliation with First Nations. Baker, who serves as Mayor of Sayward, will enter his fourth consecutive term as Chair. His reappointment reflects strong board support during a period marked by increasing regional collaboration and evolving service expectations across Vancouver Island’s…

Ontario has secured a $3.2-billion investment from Norwegian manufacturer Vianode to build a large-scale synthetic graphite facility in St. Thomas, marking the company’s first entry into the North American market and adding new momentum to the province’s growing electric-vehicle and clean-technology manufacturing corridor. The project, announced Wednesday, will create nearly 300 jobs in its initial phase and as many as 1,000 positions once fully operational. The province is framing the deal as a major step in its plan to bolster industrial resiliency, strengthen domestic supply chains and compete for global investment amid ongoing trade uncertainty. “Today’s announcement is a historic…

Charlottetown is preparing for a major tourism and economic lift as the Charlottetown Christmas Festival returns for its 2025–26 season, promising expanded programming, enhanced décor, and new attractions aimed at drawing visitors throughout the holiday period. Running from November 21, 2025, to January 2, 2026, the six-week festival is expected to generate strong activity for retailers, hospitality operators, artisan vendors and event partners across the city. Organized by Discover Charlottetown in partnership with the City of Charlottetown, Founders’ Food Hall & Market and a range of community organizations, the festival has grown into one of Atlantic Canada’s most recognizable holiday…