Author: Sophie Mitchell

Province invites organizations and businesses to apply for funding aimed at cultural and economic development The Government of Ontario has launched the 2026–2027 Francophone Community Grants Program (FCGP), opening a new round of funding designed to support projects that strengthen French-speaking communities across the province. Announced Thursday in Toronto by the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs, the program aims to help community organizations and businesses improve access to French-language services, promote Francophone culture and expand economic opportunities for French-speaking residents. Provincial officials say the initiative is part of a broader effort to reinforce the cultural and economic vitality of Ontario’s…

New facility adds 224 modern long-term care beds in Stouffville The Ontario government is marking the opening of the Mon Sheong Dr. Paul Woo Long-Term Care Centre in Stouffville, a new facility that will add 224 modern long-term care beds to the community and expand capacity for senior care in the region. The project is part of the province’s broader strategy to expand long-term care infrastructure while supporting employment and improving services for residents. The new home received a construction funding subsidy top-up from the provincial government and aligns with Ontario’s plan to expand access to long-term care as demand…

Noise and Odor Concerns Near Waste Management Centre Prompt Recommendation Ahead of March 24 Council Meeting CAMBRIDGE, ON — City of Cambridge planning staff are recommending that council reject a development proposal seeking to amend the city’s Official Plan to permit a mixed residential and commercial project at 1070 and 1140 Main Street, citing unresolved concerns related to noise and odours from a nearby waste facility. The recommendation will be presented to council during its March 24, 2026 meeting, where elected officials will determine whether the proposed amendment should proceed. According to city staff, the site’s immediate proximity to the…

Annual Francophone celebration expected to draw hundreds to city centre on March 18 Prince Albert’s downtown core will see temporary traffic restrictions and transit disruptions next week as the city prepares to host the annual Tintamarre parade, a celebration of Francophone culture and language that is expected to draw hundreds of participants. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, when approximately 500 students, teachers and community members will gather outside Prince Albert City Hall before marching through nearby streets in a lively display of music and noisemakers. City officials say motorists and transit riders should expect traffic control measures…

Tempest Theatre and regional foundation bring national farming documentary tour to the Okanagan PENTICTON, B.C. — A new Canadian documentary examining the financial realities faced by the country’s farmers will be the focus of a community event in Penticton later this month, as local arts and community organizations host a public screening and discussion on the future of agriculture. Tempest Theatre and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen (CFSOS) will present a free screening of The Hands That Feed Us on March 22. The feature-length documentary explores a central question facing the agricultural sector: whether the people responsible…

Six-episode series starring the Emmy Award winner will stream globally in more than 240 countries and territories Prime Video has released the official trailer and key art for the upcoming comedy series Bait, created by and starring Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Riz Ahmed. The six-episode series is scheduled to premiere March 25, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video, reaching audiences in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. The series marks a new original production from the streaming platform and places Ahmed at the centre of the story as Shah Latif, a struggling actor confronting what could be his…

Innovative string quartet returns with program of world and New York premieres The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) will host the internationally acclaimed JACK Quartet for a concert featuring world and New York premieres on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Buttenwieser Hall at The Arnhold Center. Tickets for the performance start at $45 for in-person attendance and $25 for livestream access. The event highlights the ensemble’s ongoing commitment to contemporary music, presenting a program composed entirely of new works. The quartet — violinists Christopher Otto and Austin Wulliman, violist John Pickford Richards, and cellist Jay Campbell…

New 200,000-square-foot facility expected to improve care access for more than 13,700 children and youth in Eastern Ontario OTTAWA — The Ontario government is marking a key milestone in the construction of the new CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre, a project aimed at expanding specialized care for children and youth with special needs across Eastern Ontario. Provincial officials and project partners celebrated the installation of the final structural beam at the site during a virtual ceremony on March 11. The completion of the structural phase signals continued progress on the 200,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to open in 2028. Once operational,…

Provincial funding aims to strengthen supply chains and safeguard 758 manufacturing jobs in Windsor-Essex WINDSOR — The Ontario government is investing more than $7.3 million to help manufacturers in Windsor-Essex withstand the impact of U.S. tariffs, supporting hundreds of workers and encouraging new investment across the region’s industrial base. The funding, delivered through the Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF), will support eight companies operating in the region. The provincial government says the projects backed by the funding represent nearly $44 million in total investment and are expected to create more than 65 new jobs while protecting another 692 positions. The…

New program aims to ensure classrooms have essential materials without teachers paying out of pocket The Ontario government says it will provide direct funding to elementary school homeroom teachers for classroom materials beginning in the 2026–27 school year, a move officials say is designed to ensure teachers have the supplies they need without paying for them personally. Announced Wednesday in Etobicoke, the new Classroom Supplies Fund will give each elementary homeroom teacher access to $750 annually for classroom materials. The initiative will be included in the province’s 2026 budget and is intended to streamline how teachers obtain basic supplies for…