Author: Sophie Mitchell

Québec City garage-punk band The Carringtons are broadening their sound with The Reunion, a 10-track album released Oct. 2, 2026, combining the group’s established punk-rock economy with bigger melodies, electronic textures and a more polished production approach. Arriving 12 years after the band first formed, The Reunion reflects the evolution of a group that has spent the past several years rebuilding its lineup, increasing its touring activity and extending its reach beyond Canada. The record was recorded and mixed by Adrian Popovich at Mountain City Studios in Montréal. The Carringtons Build Beyond Their Garage-Punk Foundation The album retains the sharp…

Kitchener, Ontario singer-songwriter Kevin Westphal, known professionally as The Canuck, is turning frustration over rising grocery bills into country comedy with his latest single, “The Food Inflation Blues.” The song uses humour and a traditional country shuffle to address a subject familiar to Canadian households: the cost of filling a grocery cart. Westphal said the idea emerged after a conversation with a grocery store manager about rising prices, followed later that evening by a news report discussing grocery-sector profits. “I picked up my guitar and ‘The Food Inflation Blues’ just came out,” he says. Grocery Sticker Shock Becomes the Focus…

Canadian blues singer and JUNO Award winner Crystal Shawanda has released her latest album, Homesick Indian Blues, a 10-track collection exploring identity, belonging and self-reclamation while paying tribute to the late Raul Malo of The Mavericks. Released through New Sun Records and produced by Shawanda’s husband, Dewayne Strobel, the album is led by “Come Unto Me,” Shawanda’s interpretation of The Mavericks song. The recording carries particular significance for the artist because Malo’s support during her early years in Nashville helped encourage her career. ‘Homesick Indian Blues’ Explores Identity and Finding a Way Home Shawanda describes the new record as a…

Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn has expanded his touring schedule with a new series of spring 2027 concerts, building on strong demand for his fall performances as he prepares to release his 39th album, The Blood of Others, on Oct. 16. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame member will take the new tour through Western Canada and the United States from late March through April 2027. The announcement comes as Cockburn continues a career spanning more than five decades and prepares to introduce an album centred on songs written by other artists. ‘The Blood of Others’ Revisits Songs That Shaped Cockburn…

Denver indie pop duo Cherokee Social has released “Maya,” a deeply personal new single inspired by frontman Julian Navarro’s late mother and shaped around themes of memory, individuality and the full arc of a person’s life. The track pairs reverb-heavy guitar with layered vocal harmonies, turning a story rooted in loss into a broader reflection on living openly and maintaining connections with the people who leave a lasting impact. ‘Maya’ Draws Inspiration From Navarro’s Late Mother Navarro said the song emerged as he reflected on getting older and on the way his mother approached life before her death. “Maya is…

BritBox will premiere the fourth season of BAFTA Award-winning police drama Blue Lights on November 12, extending the streaming service’s lineup of British television programming for Canadian audiences. The six-episode season will debut with one episode on November 12, followed by a new episode each week through December 17. Season 4 returns to the lives of response officers Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster and Annie Conlon as they confront mounting pressure on the streets and within the police service. Season 4 Brings New Threats and a Murder Trial Three years into their careers as response officers, Grace, Tommy and Annie are…

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Ontario is investing nearly $30 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to support more than 300 non-profit organizations, First Nations communities and small municipalities, with funding aimed at improving facilities and community spaces across the province. The provincial government said the 2026 investment will help organizations upgrade infrastructure, expand programming and improve accessibility. Projects supported through the funding include recreation facilities, cultural spaces, community resource centres and programs serving children, youth and people with disabilities. The funding is also expected to support employment and local economic activity as organizations undertake renovations, construction, repairs and equipment purchases. Capital…

TORONTO — Ontario’s general minimum wage increased to $17.95 an hour on Thursday, up from $17.60, providing higher pay for more than 700,000 workers across the province as employers continue to manage labour costs and broader economic uncertainty. Effective October 1, 2026, the 35-cent increase gives Ontario the second-highest provincial minimum wage in Canada. The adjustment is tied to the province’s Consumer Price Index, which rose 1.9 per cent for the period used to calculate the new rate. For an employee earning the general minimum wage and working 40 hours a week, the increase translates into approximately $728 in additional…

Ontario is moving ahead with new transportation infrastructure in northern Ontario, replacing the truck inspection station in Hearst and adding 14 kilometres of passing lanes along Highway 11 as the province looks to strengthen commercial vehicle enforcement and improve traffic flow on a key trade corridor. The provincial government said the projects are intended to improve safety for passenger and commercial vehicles while supporting the movement of goods between northern communities and other parts of Canada. Highway 11 serves as an important transportation link for businesses, residents and trucking operators across the region. Hearst Truck Inspection Station Targeted for December…

Prince Albert Transit will operate buses on an hourly schedule on Thursday, October 1, and Friday, October 2, with several routes departing the downtown transfer station at staggered times throughout the day. The temporary schedule affects the West Flat, Rush Hour, All Day, East Flat, West Hill and East Hill services. The Core Express route will not operate during the two-day period. The City is advising transit users to check current schedule information before travelling, as further revisions may be announced if operating conditions change. West Flat, Rush Hour and All Day Buses to Run Hourly Under the October 1…