Author: Sophie Mitchell

TORONTO — Ontario has recognized five of its leading researchers with the 2025 John Charles Polanyi Prizes, underscoring the province’s push to translate homegrown research into economic growth and social impact across key sectors. The annual awards, named after 1986 Nobel laureate John Charles Polanyi, celebrate early-career researchers whose discoveries advance Ontario’s economy, improve quality of life and strengthen the province’s global competitiveness. The prizes were presented at a ceremony at Queen’s Park hosted by Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, alongside Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Polanyi himself. “Ontario researchers are saving lives…

LAS VEGAS — A new entrant to the North American heavy music circuit is staking its claim in 2026, as VEGAS UN ALIVE FESTIVAL prepares to debut with a two-day lineup aimed at re-energizing Las Vegas’ extreme metal community. Billed as rising “from the ashes of Las Vegas Deathfest,” VEGAS UN ALIVE FESTIVAL has announced its inaugural roster featuring DECREPIT BIRTH, THE CONVALESCENCE, CASKET ROBBERY, PESSIMIST, CLAUSTROFOBIA and more than 20 additional acts spanning the global death metal and deathcore scenes. The festival will take place Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, at the Divebar, located at 4110 S.…

The Ontario government says it will fast-track construction of long-promised all-season roads to the Ring of Fire, aiming to complete key segments up to five years ahead of schedule in a bid to unlock billions in mineral development and position the province as a global critical minerals leader. In a plan released Monday, the province confirmed construction will begin as early as June 2026, with the first roads expected to open by November 2030. The accelerated timeline is paired with new economic partnership agreements signed with Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, as well as streamlined regulatory processes…

Winnipeg — A dispute over a checkstop on a northern Manitoba roadway is escalating into a broader call for provincial intervention, as the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association (MLOA) urges the government to resolve what it describes as an illegal blockade affecting tourism operators. The industry group is asking Premier Wab Kinew, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Minister Ian Bushie and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to remove a Bloodvein First Nation checkstop located on the East Side Road, also known as Rice River Road, north of Winnipeg. The issue came to a head on Feb.…

TORONTO — Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Paula Letang is strengthening her international profile with the release of her latest single, “Giving You More,” a self-produced track that underscores her evolution as both a creative and business force in the modern soul music market. Released this month, the single blends vintage soul influences with contemporary production, reflecting Letang’s dual role as an independent artist and producer in an increasingly globalized music industry. Co-written with Kwanele Sifunda, also known as Khwezi, the song highlights themes of emotional openness and personal growth while reinforcing Letang’s brand as an artist capable of bridging…

Production is officially underway on the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the blockbuster PlayStation franchise God of War, marking a major investment by Prime Video and its studio partners as competition intensifies in the global streaming market. Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios announced the start of filming and released a first-look image featuring actors Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson in costume as Kratos and Atreus. The pair portray the central father-son duo in the live-action interpretation of one of gaming’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed franchises. The series represents a significant content bet for Prime Video as…

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is bringing its burlesque-inspired stage production “Ohh Mamma!” to Columbus, Ohio, as part of a U.S. tour aimed at raising awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV prevention, amid rising infection rates and renewed calls for public health action. The show, which headlines Kylie Sonique Love, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, will be staged for one night only on Feb. 28 at the Palace Theatre. The performance marks the final stop in a limited four-week tour that has already visited New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. AHF said the production is designed…

An inquest will be held into the death of 34-year-old Matthew DiGiovanni, who died in 2019 after an interaction with Peel Regional Police, Ontario’s coroner’s office announced Thursday, marking the latest step in a mandatory legal process aimed at examining deaths involving police. Dr. Richard Wells, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region’s Toronto West Office, announced the decision in a statement issued by Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General on Feb. 27, 2026. Mr. Matthew DiGiovanni died on Sept. 10, 2019, following an interaction earlier that day with officers from Peel Regional Police, which serves Mississauga, Brampton and surrounding…

The inquest into the death of Ryan Rawson-Keeley, which had been scheduled to begin early next week, has been postponed at the direction of the presiding officer, the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General said Thursday. In a brief statement released Feb. 27, 2026, the ministry said, “The presiding officer has directed that the inquest into the death of Ryan Rawson-Keeley, scheduled to begin on March 2, 2026, be postponed.” No reason for the postponement was provided. Officials added that “Further information will follow when it becomes available,” leaving the timeline for rescheduling unclear. Coroners’ inquests in Ontario are formal…

The Strathcona Regional District has approved its 2026–2030 financial plan, shifting its fiscal focus from major capital construction to operating new facilities while continuing to invest in housing, infrastructure and climate resilience across the Vancouver Island region. The plan, approved Feb. 27, positions the regional government to support new community assets coming online in 2026 while balancing affordability concerns amid ongoing inflationary pressures. Among the most significant developments is the opening of the new Aquatic and Wellness Centre at Strathcona Gardens, along with the Just Like Home Lodge and Health Professionals Housing project. Regional officials say these projects mark a…