Author: Sophie Mitchell

BRUCE COUNTY, Ont. — Ontario has opened nominations for the 2027 Rural Ontario Inspiration Awards, continuing a provincial recognition program designed to highlight individuals, businesses, organizations and communities contributing to economic development and community strength across rural Ontario. The annual awards focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, partnerships and community-building initiatives. Nominations are open until October 23, 2026, giving residents, municipalities and community organizations an opportunity to put forward candidates from across the province. “In rural communities across the province, people are making a difference every day by stepping up, creating opportunities and helping to build a stronger rural Ontario,” said…

Patients in Abbotsford and surrounding Fraser Valley communities now have access to upgraded diagnostic imaging services following the opening of a modernized MRI suite at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. The $4.95-million project is expected to improve image quality, shorten some scanning times and increase annual MRI capacity. The upgraded Crystal Gala Foundation MRI suite combines newer imaging equipment, artificial intelligence technology and advanced software designed to provide clinicians with more detailed diagnostic images. “I am excited that people in Abbotsford and the surrounding communities are getting answers to the care they need,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Health.…

Toronto audiences will get a theatrical mashup of two entertainment icons this fall when Liberace & Liza – A Tribute arrives at TD Music Hall on Nov. 21, bringing piano virtuosity, musical theatre and comedy together in a two-hour stage production. Presented by Massey Hall, the show stars David Saffert and Jillian Snow in a tribute inspired by pianist and entertainer Liberace and singer and actor Liza Minnelli. The performance is scheduled for 8 p.m. at TD Music Hall, located at 178 Victoria St. in downtown Toronto. General ticket sales are scheduled to begin Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. ET,…

Canadian children’s musician and 2026 JUNO Award nominee Chris McKhool has released “Party in the Street,” the second single from his forthcoming album Global Dance Party!, which is scheduled to arrive Nov. 6. Inspired by Carnival and Mardi Gras traditions and filmed at Toronto Caribbean Carnival, the new song combines blues, reggae, folk and world music influences. The project continues McKhool’s long-running focus on introducing children and families to musical traditions from different cultures through accessible performances and interactive songwriting. The release comes after McKhool’s latest full-length album, Little Leaf, received a 2026 JUNO nomination for Children’s Album of the…

Montreal ska-punk band K-Man & The 45s has released “Demon Days,” the second single from its forthcoming album Heed The Call, offering another preview of the group’s latest studio project ahead of its Oct. 9 release through Stomp Records. Released Sept. 23 alongside a new music video, “Demon Days” combines two-tone ska, punk rock and rock-and-roll influences with a deliberately chaotic atmosphere. The track follows the album’s earlier single, “We Won’t Stop,” while demonstrating a different side of a band that has spent years developing its sound through recording and touring. The new single was recorded and mixed by Ryan…

Aurora, Ontario singer-songwriter Laura Fortini is drawing on a deeply personal family experience for her latest single, “Shattered,” as she continues work on a 14-track self-titled debut album. “Shattered” is the second song Fortini has released publicly and is expected to appear as the 10th track on the forthcoming album. The release follows her debut single, “Look In,” which arrived Oct. 10, 2025, and forms part of a growing catalogue built around autobiographical songwriting. The new track was inspired by a difficult experience involving Fortini’s twin brother and her feelings of helplessness as she watched the situation unfold without being…

BritBox is expanding its North American streaming schedule in October with the return of mystery series Ludwig and prison drama Time, alongside the addition of the 2016 adaptation of War and Peace and a slate of other British programming. The October lineup places established performers including David Mitchell, David Tennant, Siobhan Finneran, Lily James, Paul Dano and James Norton at the centre of the streaming service’s fall programming. New releases will roll out throughout the month for standard subscribers, with several titles receiving North American premieres. David Mitchell Returns for ‘Ludwig’ Season 2 Ludwig returns for its second season on…

Canadian reggae group Messenjah is extending a career spanning more than four decades with the release of “No More,” a new single that reconnects the band’s established reggae sound with themes of determination, resilience and independence. Formed in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1981 by Rupert “Ojiji” Harvey and Errol “Skippah” Blackwood, Messenjah became the first Canadian reggae band signed to a major record label. The group went on to build an international profile while helping establish a commercial foothold for reggae within Canada’s music industry. The new recording arrives as Messenjah continues performing and recording with Harvey leading a lineup combining…

Hammond organist Vel Lewis has teamed with saxophonist Marion Meadows for “Smoovee,” a groove-driven single gaining traction across smooth jazz radio charts internationally and marking the latest chapter in Lewis’s six-decade career spanning jazz, soul, funk, gospel and rhythm and blues. The recording debuted as the No. 1 Most Added track at smooth jazz radio and has appeared on the Smooth Jazz Network Top 100, Mediabase Smooth Jazz, RadioWave Monitor Groove Jazz 100 and the Top 30 Weekend Radio chart in Madrid, Spain. The single is also available across major streaming platforms. Built around Lewis’s Hammond organ and Meadows’s soprano…

Fingerstyle guitarist, composer and arranger Alexandr Misko is taking his latest album, Final Boss, on an extensive North American tour, with a significant run of Canadian performances stretching across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The German-based musician is touring with his self-designed Frankenstein Guitar, a heavily modified instrument central to the distinctive combination of melody, percussion and experimental techniques that has helped build his international following. ‘Final Boss’ Expands Misko’s Fingerstyle Approach Misko began playing classical guitar at age 12 before discovering modern fingerstyle techniques online and developing his approach independently. His experimentation eventually led to the Frankenstein Guitar,…