Author: Sophie Mitchell

NEW YORK — Brazilian guitar virtuosos Sérgio and Odair Assad will bring their decades-long partnership to a close with a final concert at The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) on March 14, 2026, marking the end of a farewell tour that celebrates nearly 60 years of collaboration and global influence in classical guitar. The performance, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the David Geffen Stage at Kaufmann Concert Hall, returns the internationally acclaimed duo to the venue that helped launch their North American career more than four decades ago. Tickets for the concert start at $45. Sérgio and Odair Assad,…

MONTRÉAL — A Quebec engineering firm is helping drive the technological backbone of one of the world’s largest live music productions, as Montréal-based Show Canada provides advanced stage structures and automation systems for Ed Sheeran’s new global “Loop Tour.” The company, known for designing complex performance infrastructure, engineered several of the tour’s key scenic elements, including a massive telescopic bridge that allows the British singer-songwriter to move between two stages during performances. The project highlights the growing international presence of Canadian engineering expertise in large-scale entertainment productions. Show Canada designed a 173-foot telescopic bridge that functions as a dynamic pathway…

TORONTO — The Ontario government has appointed a new expert advisory body to conduct a wide-ranging review of student achievement and assessment across the province, a move aimed at improving outcomes in core academic areas including reading, writing and mathematics. The initiative, announced Wednesday by the Ministry of Education, will examine how Ontario evaluates student performance and how the education system supports learning, with particular attention to standardized testing conducted by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). The review forms part of the province’s broader effort to strengthen accountability and raise academic standards within publicly funded schools. “Student achievement…

Mountain View, Calif. — Ronald G. Wayne, one of the original co-founders of Apple Computer Company, will appear as a featured guest at the Computer History Museum’s Apple@50 opening event on March 11, marking the technology giant’s 50th anniversary and highlighting the early figures who helped launch the company. The event, taking place at the Computer History Museum (CHM) in Mountain View, California, will commemorate Apple’s half-century milestone and examine the company’s influence on the global technology industry. Wayne, now nearly 92, is expected to reflect on Apple’s earliest days and his role in its founding alongside other alumni connected…

KITCHENER, Ont. — Kitchener city council endorsed a series of measures aimed at strengthening the city’s economic development efforts, modernizing municipal services and responding to regional infrastructure challenges during its March 2 meeting. Among the key decisions were support for making the Pitch Kitchener innovation program permanent, approval of a new agreement with Waterloo Regional Police Service for municipal bylaw dispatching, and steps to address a regional water capacity constraint affecting development across the area. The city was also recognized nationally for its work in supporting professional planning staff. Key decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items…

TORONTO — The Ontario government is moving to modernize its Critical Minerals Strategy, positioning the province as a secure global supplier of responsibly sourced materials while seeking to shield its economy from geopolitical volatility and trade disruptions. At the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto, Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce announced the release of a new vision paper titled Fortifying Ontario’s Economy: A Plan to Accelerate Responsible Resource Development. The document launches consultations aimed at updating the province’s five-year Critical Minerals Strategy, first introduced in 2022. The government says the renewed strategy will focus…

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford has appointed Travis Kann as his new chief of staff, effective March 6, 2026, marking a senior leadership transition at Queen’s Park as Ontario navigates ongoing economic uncertainty and heightened trade tensions with the United States. The appointment, announced Monday by the Premier’s Office, positions Kann — currently serving in dual roles as principal secretary and head of Ontario-U.S. engagement — at the centre of the government’s policy and political operations during a period defined by global economic volatility and tariff pressures from the United States. “During his time in government, Travis has helped steer…

Ontario and Nova Scotia Sign Direct-to-Consumer Alcohol Pact to Boost Interprovincial Trade TORONTO — Ontario and Nova Scotia have signed a landmark agreement allowing alcohol producers in each province to sell directly to consumers in the other, marking a significant step toward reducing internal trade barriers and expanding market access for Canadian businesses. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston formalized the first-of-its-kind direct-to-consumer (DTC) arrangement on Monday, enabling breweries, wineries and distilleries in both provinces to ship products directly to customers across provincial lines. The deal is positioned as part of a broader effort to strengthen…

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A Prince George RCMP officer convicted of obstructing justice in connection with the 2017 death of Dale Culver has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation, marking the only criminal conviction stemming from the high-profile case. Judge Fortino handed down the sentence to Const. Arthur Dalman on unceded Lheidli T’enneh Territory, ordering that he serve probation, report to a probation officer and complete 150 hours of community work service. The conviction will also result in a criminal record. The ruling closes one chapter in a case that has spanned nearly nine years and drawn scrutiny to police…

The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced that a formal inquest will be held into the 2021 death of Justin Bourassa, a 29-year-old man who died following an interaction with officers from the London Police Service. In a news release issued March 2, 2026, the ministry said the inquest is mandatory under the province’s Coroners Act. “Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region, London Office, has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Justin Bourassa.” Mr. Bourassa died on October 28, 2021, the same day he interacted with officers from the London Police…