Author: Sophie Mitchell

Federal Funding Pushes Recreation Infrastructure Into Spotlight Prince Albert welcomed Secretary of State Buckley Belanger to the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre on May 2 as municipal leaders and community members discussed the future of sport and recreation infrastructure in Saskatchewan. The visit came shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the federal government’s 2026 Spring Economic Update, which included a $755 million commitment to sport over the next five years. The funding initiative is aimed at improving access to recreational opportunities across Canada while supporting the development and use of both existing and new community infrastructure. During the tour,…

City Highlights Importance of Census Data for Funding, Infrastructure and Community Planning Online census packages arriving in mailboxes across the community The 2026 Census is officially underway in Prince Albert, with city officials encouraging residents to complete their questionnaires as census packages begin arriving in local mailboxes. Residents will receive a letter from Statistics Canada containing a secure 16-digit access code that allows them to complete the census online through the federal agency’s census portal. According to officials, the online questionnaire only takes a few minutes to complete. Municipal leaders say participation in the national census plays a critical role…

Government Removes Board of Governors Following Findings of Governance and Spending Failures The Ontario government has appointed an administrator to oversee Conestoga College after an audit uncovered what officials described as serious financial mismanagement and governance failures at the institution. In a statement released Wednesday, the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security confirmed that the province is relieving Conestoga College’s Board of Governors of its duties and appointing Linda Franklin as Administrator, effective immediately. The intervention follows an extensive provincial audit that identified questionable executive compensation practices, luxury travel expenses and repeated hospitality spending that allegedly lacked proper…

Province Strengthens Ontario Corps to Improve Emergency Transportation and Disaster Support TORONTO — The Ontario government has added Uber Canada to its growing Ontario Corps emergency response network, a move aimed at improving transportation and logistics support during natural disasters and community emergencies across the province. The announcement, made Wednesday by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, is part of Ontario’s broader strategy to strengthen emergency readiness through partnerships with private-sector organizations and volunteers capable of mobilizing quickly during crises. Ontario Corps was established to support communities affected by emergencies by coordinating personnel, equipment and critical services within short…

Provincial funding targets aging systems, housing growth and climate resilience Municipal projects in St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls to receive support THOROLD, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing nearly $44 million to rehabilitate aging water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure across the Niagara Region, as part of a broader provincial strategy aimed at supporting housing development, protecting public health and strengthening local economies. The funding, announced Wednesday through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS), will support critical upgrades in four Niagara municipalities. Provincial officials say the projects are intended to improve access…

Musi-Flo Artist of the Year expands her alt-pop and folk-rock sound with “Make Me Lose Control” New release highlights growing momentum for Montréal-based independent artist MONTRÉAL — Montréal singer-songwriter Silka Weil has released her latest single, “Make Me Lose Control,” marking the next step in the rollout for her forthcoming EP Midnight Blue, scheduled for release on July 3, 2026. The new track positions the emerging artist deeper within the alt-pop and folk-rock space while reinforcing her reputation for emotionally charged songwriting and striking live performances. Weil, who was named Musi-Flo’s Artist of the Year in 2023, has steadily built…

Funding to support municipalities and First Nations with local water innovation and extreme weather preparedness Province launches new support for sustainable infrastructure and water quality projects The Ontario government is investing $1.5 million into a new Local Blue Economy Growth Fund Program aimed at helping municipalities and First Nations across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin improve water quality, strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable economic growth. The funding, announced Thursday in Hamilton by Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy, will be administered through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Cities Initiative. The program will provide…

Province says move will connect more than one million additional Ontarians to earlier colorectal cancer detection and treatment Screening eligibility to drop from age 50 to 45 beginning July 1 The Ontario government is lowering the eligibility age for publicly funded colorectal cancer screening in a move aimed at improving early detection rates and expanding access to preventive care across the province. Beginning July 1, Ontarians aged 45 and older will become eligible for publicly funded colorectal cancer screening through the province’s ColonCancerCheck program. The current eligibility age is 50. Individuals considered at increased risk due to family history will…

New book by filmmaker Guy Rex Rodgers documents conversations across Quebec following the release of his immigration documentary MONTREAL — Quebec filmmaker and community activist Guy Rex Rodgers is releasing a new book that examines the province’s evolving linguistic and cultural identity through the voices of people often left out of mainstream historical narratives. Titled What We Choose To Forget, the book follows Rodgers’ three-year tour across Quebec after the release of his 2022 documentary film What We Choose To Remember, which explored immigration waves in the province from the British Conquest to the arrival of international students in the…

Province moves forward with first large-scale nuclear build in more than three decades ETOBICOKE — The Ontario government is moving ahead with the early development phase of the proposed Bruce C Nuclear Project, marking the province’s first large-scale nuclear expansion initiative in more than 30 years as it seeks to meet rising electricity demand and strengthen domestic energy security. Ontario announced Wednesday that it has directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to enter into a cost-sharing and recovery agreement with Bruce Power. The agreement will allow the company to proceed with preliminary work tied to the proposed project, including…