Author: Sophie Mitchell

Province and City Back Return of Iconic Greektown Event After Three-Year Absence TORONTO — The Ontario government is investing $200,000 to support the return of Taste of the Danforth, one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable street festivals, as the province looks to strengthen tourism, support local businesses and drive economic activity in Toronto. The three-day festival, set to run from Aug. 7 to 9, marks the event’s first return since 2024. Organizers expect more than one million visitors to attend the annual celebration of Greek culture, food and entertainment along Toronto’s Danforth Avenue. The provincial funding announcement was made…

City surpasses provincial housing target as Ontario pushes ahead with homebuilding strategy KITCHENER, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded more than $8 million to the City of Kitchener under the province’s Building Faster Fund after the municipality exceeded 85 per cent of its provincially assigned housing target in 2025. The funding announcement, made Thursday by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, will see Kitchener receive $8,013,600 through the third round of the program, which rewards municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing goals. Kitchener recorded 3,005 housing starts last year, positioning the city…

Province unveils Ontario Campus at Toronto fan festival ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™ TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a large-scale interactive attraction at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto as the province prepares to welcome international visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The newly introduced Ontario Campus, located at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway, is designed as a community activation zone aimed at promoting Ontario’s tourism destinations, cultural attractions and economic strengths during the global football tournament. The initiative brings together programming from several Official Toronto World Cup Host City Supporters, including Humber Polytechnic,…

New initiative aims to strengthen civic engagement and improve municipal decision-making The City of Prince Albert is introducing a new community engagement initiative designed to encourage residents to take a more active role in shaping municipal policies, programs, and projects. The initiative, known as Collaborative Groups, was approved by City Council on May 11, 2026, and is intended to bring together residents, businesses, community organizations, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to provide input on issues affecting the city. City officials say the program will create additional opportunities for public participation while helping municipal administration gather broader perspectives on key community…

Agreement aims to expand cross-border cooperation and strengthen North American economic security TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at deepening economic cooperation between the province and the U.S. state in areas including energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, life sciences and advanced nuclear technology. The agreement, announced Tuesday in Toronto, is part of Ontario’s broader strategy to strengthen trade partnerships across the United States while positioning the province as a key supplier of energy and industrial resources in North America. The MOU also aligns with Ontario’s renewed “Building…

City plans full day of family activities, entertainment and fireworks on July 1 Federal funding and local sponsors support expanded community celebration CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — The City of Cambridge will bring back its Canada Day celebrations at Riverside Park on July 1 following what officials described as a successful inaugural event last year, with organizers planning a full day of family-friendly programming, live entertainment and fireworks. The event, now entering its second year at Riverside Park, is expected to attract large crowds throughout the day, beginning with a morning fishing derby and concluding with an evening fireworks display. “Last year’s…

Mandatory inquest to examine circumstances surrounding 2022 death following transfer from Brockville Jail The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Gregory Wilkinson, a 54-year-old man who died in February 2022 after being transferred from the Brockville Jail to Brockville General Hospital. Dr. Armita Rahmani, Regional Supervising Coroner for the East Region in the Kingston Office, confirmed the decision on June 10. The inquest is being conducted under Ontario’s Coroners Act, which requires mandatory inquests in specific circumstances involving deaths connected to correctional institutions. According to the announcement, Wilkinson…

Coroner’s Office to Examine Circumstances Surrounding 2019 Death Following Transfer from Toronto South Detention Centre The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Richard Preston, a 79-year-old man who died in 2019 after being transferred from the Toronto South Detention Centre to hospital care in Mississauga. The announcement was made Tuesday by Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region, Central West Office. According to the notice, Mr. Preston died on July 26, 2019, at Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital after being transferred from the correctional facility.…

NMPF Delegation Meets with Lawmakers During Annual Washington Fly-In ARLINGTON, Va. — More than 80 dairy industry representatives from across the United States gathered in Washington this week to urge lawmakers to take action on several key agricultural priorities, including labour reform, trade protections and milk labeling standards. The advocacy effort, organized by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), included meetings with approximately 100 congressional offices as part of the organization’s annual fly-in event. Dairy farmers and cooperative leaders used the meetings to highlight concerns affecting the sector, including the recent return of New World screwworm to the United States…

Province backs 18 projects aimed at boosting domestic processing, innovation and job creation amid rising geopolitical pressures Funding supports made-in-Ontario technologies for mining, battery production and advanced manufacturing TIMMINS, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing nearly $8 million in 18 critical minerals projects as part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce dependence on foreign sources and position the province as a global leader in mining and mineral processing. The announcement was made Tuesday at the Canadian Mining Expo in Timmins by Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, alongside George Pirie, Minister of Northern…