Author: Sophie Mitchell

City Surpasses Annual Housing Goal as Province Continues Push to Accelerate Home Construction NORTH BAY, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of North Bay $336,000 through the third and final round of the Building Faster Fund after the municipality exceeded its provincially assigned housing target in 2025. The funding recognizes North Bay’s progress in increasing housing supply, with the city recording 113 housing starts last year—13 per cent above its annual target. Provincial officials say the investment will support additional housing development and community infrastructure projects while helping sustain economic growth and employment across the region. The…

Province marks milestone in northern infrastructure project with new media resources The Ontario government has released an electronic press kit featuring photos and videos to accompany a milestone announcement marking the start of construction on a major transportation project in northern Ontario. The electronic press kit, made available on June 25 by the Premier’s Office, supports the announcement that Ontario and Webequie First Nation have officially broken ground on the long-planned Ring of Fire Road project. The media package is intended to provide journalists, stakeholders and the public with visual assets documenting the event and the significance of the infrastructure…

Heavy rainfall in Alberta expected to drive significant increases in North Saskatchewan River flows near Prince Albert The Water Security Agency (WSA) has issued a High Flow Advisory for the North Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan River systems after heavy rainfall in Alberta sharply increased river flows, prompting public safety warnings for communities along the waterways, including Prince Albert. Water levels along the North Saskatchewan River are expected to rise significantly over the coming days, with officials forecasting an increase of nearly two metres near Prince Albert by June 27, 2026. The advisory comes as upstream rainfall continues to push larger volumes…

Decision narrows legal avenues for cancer-related lawsuits while prompting renewed calls for stronger federal pesticide oversight WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Monsanto in a closely watched pesticide liability case, significantly limiting the ability of individuals to sue pesticide manufacturers for failing to warn consumers about potential cancer risks when federal regulators have not required such warnings on product labels. In a 7-2 decision in Monsanto v. Durnell, the Court concluded that claims alleging pesticide manufacturers failed to warn users of cancer risks are preempted by federal law if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency…

Groundbreaking marks major milestone in critical minerals strategy and Indigenous economic partnership WEBEQUIE FIRST NATION — The Ontario government and Webequie First Nation have officially broken ground on the Webequie Supply Road, marking the start of construction on a key transportation corridor that will connect the remote northern community to the Ring of Fire region and advance one of Canada’s largest critical minerals development initiatives. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Premier Doug Ford, Webequie First Nation Chief Lorraine Whitehead and several provincial cabinet ministers, represents a significant step in Ontario’s accelerated infrastructure strategy for the Ring of Fire. The province…

Peterborough Musicfest has finalized the lineup for its 39th season, adding Canadian music icon David Wilcox and brass-funk collective My Son The Hurricane to a summer schedule that will feature 16 free-admission concerts at Del Crary Park in Peterborough, Ontario. The latest announcement completes the festival’s programming for the 2026 season, which will bring together established Canadian performers, emerging artists and first-time festival acts on the Fred Anderson Stage. Organizers say the lineup is designed to offer a broad mix of musical styles while continuing the event’s long-standing commitment to free live entertainment. David Wilcox will return to the Fred…

Canadian rock veterans partner with Delta breweries to launch hometown-inspired lager Canadian rock band 54-40 is celebrating its British Columbia roots with a new locally brewed lager, the release of a previously unavailable song, and an extensive summer and fall tour that will take the group from the West Coast to Ontario. The Vancouver-area band has partnered with Four Winds Brewing and Barnside Brewing to create Ocean Pearl, a West Coast-style lager named after one of its best-known songs. The launch is accompanied by the debut of the rare track “Travel With Jack” as part of a new digital compilation,…

Title: David Clayton-Thomas, Iconic Canadian Voice of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dies at 84 Subtitle: Grammy-winning singer and songwriter leaves behind a legacy that transformed jazz-rock and inspired generations of Canadian musicians David Clayton-Thomas, the Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter whose powerful vocals helped propel Blood, Sweat & Tears to international success, has died at the age of 84. Clayton-Thomas died peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, according to a statement released by his family. His death marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades…

Program invites Canadians to recognize unpaid caregivers, healthcare professionals and community champions through the Canada Cares Awards Canada Cares has opened nominations for its national caregiver recognition program, inviting Canadians to honour individuals whose dedication to supporting others often goes unnoticed. The organization said nominations for the 2026 Canada Cares Awards will remain open until Dec. 31, offering an opportunity to recognize caregivers, healthcare professionals and community champions while providing financial assistance through its One Wish Awards. The initiative aims to acknowledge the millions of Canadians who provide care to family members, friends and neighbours, many of whom balance caregiving…

New LP captures raw live energy through a stripped-down recording approach as the French band releases its latest studio project French rock duo Quintana Dead Blues eXperience has released its latest album, Ashes, marking a new chapter for the Bordeaux-based project led by longtime musician Piero Quintana. Released on June 26, 2026, the record combines grunge, heavy blues, garage rock and alternative influences while embracing a live, unpolished sound that reflects the band’s evolving creative direction. The album arrives as Quintana reunites with drummer Adrien Schiavone, transforming what had largely been a one-man project into a full-force two-piece act. The…