Author: Sophie Mitchell

Ontario aims to reduce delays for vulnerable sector screenings Proposed amendments would allow police services to process checks across jurisdictions The Ontario government is moving to reduce wait times for police record checks, particularly vulnerable sector screenings required for people seeking employment or volunteer opportunities involving children, seniors and individuals with disabilities. The proposed amendments, announced Thursday as part of a broader legislative package, would update the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 to allow designated police services to process vulnerable sector checks for applicants living outside their local jurisdiction. The province says the changes are intended to improve efficiency…

Protesters Call on Bank to End Ties to Israeli Government Bonds and Arms Companies LONDON — Pro-Palestinian activists disrupted the annual general meeting of Barclays in London on Thursday, accusing the bank of financially supporting Israel’s military operations in Gaza through investments, loans and its role in selling Israeli government bonds. The disruption took place during the bank’s AGM as demonstrators interrupted proceedings with chants urging Barclays to “stop bankrolling genocide.” Several groups of protesters were eventually escorted from the meeting by security personnel after repeated interruptions. The protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign alongside the Campaign Against…

Civil liberties group argues withdrawal of supervised consumption funding may violate Charter rights Appeal centres on Alberta’s 2024 decision to end funding for overdose prevention services The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) is set to intervene before the Alberta Court of Appeal on May 8 in a case challenging the provincial government’s decision to stop funding overdose prevention services, including the Red Deer Overdose Protection Site. The appeal in Brown v Alberta stems from the Alberta government’s 2024 decision to cease funding for overdose prevention services across the province, leading to the closure of facilities relied upon by people with…

Ontario to Examine Circumstances Surrounding 2020 Death After Encounter With York Regional Police The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Arian Pristine, a 35-year-old man who died following an interaction with York Regional Police in 2020. In a statement released Tuesday, Dr. Joel Kirsh, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Toronto Region at the Toronto Central Office, confirmed that the inquest will proceed under the province’s Coroners Act, which mandates public inquests in certain cases involving deaths connected to police interactions or custodial circumstances. “Dr. Joel Kirsh, Regional…

Vancouver extreme-metal supergroup to perform at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival alongside Fallujah and Allegaeon Vancouver-based extreme-metal outfit Gravemass has announced a Western Canadian tour for summer 2026 following the release of its debut album, This Is The Way, marking a significant step forward for a band composed of veterans from some of the country’s most established heavy music acts. Dubbed the “This Is The Way Tour 2026,” the eight-date run will take the band through British Columbia and Alberta between July 31 and Aug. 8, including a scheduled appearance at the 2026 edition of the Loud As Hell…

City-wide initiative encourages residents to dispose of unwanted items and maintain properties responsibly The City of Prince Albert is preparing for its annual Community Clean-Up Week, a municipal initiative aimed at helping residents remove unwanted household items while promoting cleaner and safer neighbourhoods across the city. Running from May 11 to 16, 2026, the week-long programme will provide residents with access to designated community clean-up bins at multiple locations throughout Prince Albert, making it easier to dispose of accumulated waste and large unwanted materials following the winter season. City officials say the initiative forms part of broader efforts to encourage…

Canadian residents can fish licence-free across Ontario from May 9 to 10 Ontario residents and visitors will be able to fish without a licence this Mother’s Day weekend as the provincial government launches its second free fishing period of 2026, part of a broader effort to encourage outdoor recreation and support tourism across the province. From May 9 to 10, Canadian residents can fish recreationally in Ontario waters without purchasing a fishing licence or Outdoors Card, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The initiative is designed to encourage families to spend time outdoors while introducing more people to recreational…

Riot City joins revised headliner roster as grassroots festival prepares for two-day event in Millet, Alberta Western Canada’s underground metal community is set to converge once again in rural Alberta this summer as Decimate Metalfest returns to the Millet Agriplex Arena on June 26 and 27, bringing together heavy music, independent arts and community-focused programming in an all-ages festival environment. Organizers of the Alberta-based festival have announced several lineup changes ahead of the 2026 edition, including the addition of Calgary heavy metal band Riot City as a replacement headliner after original headliner Glyph withdrew from the event. The revised lineup…

Québec progressive rock collaborators release latest track from forthcoming album The Solivagant Tales SAGUENAY, Que. — Québec musicians Martin Larose and Anaïs Vanessa have released “Breathe In Breathe Out,” the latest single from their collaborative album The Solivagant Tales, a project that shifts from politically charged progressive rock toward a more intimate exploration of anxiety, emotional resilience and self-reflection. The Saguenay-based artists said the track was conceived as both a personal meditation and a broader commentary on the pressures of modern life. Built around layered guitar arrangements and emotionally direct lyricism, the song centres on themes of stillness and confronting…

Self-Funded Album ‘I’ve Been Here Before’ Marks Arrival of Emerging Toronto Band TORONTO — Toronto indie rock trio Phantasia has released “King Of All My Dreams,” the debut single from its newly launched album I’ve Been Here Before, a project the band says reflects nearly two years of live performance, songwriting refinement, and independent production work. The song, written by vocalist and guitarist Ethan Flynn nearly nine years ago, serves as the opening track and lead single for the album, now available on major streaming platforms. For the band — made up of Flynn, bassist Mario Prifti, and drummer Michael…