Author: Sophie Mitchell

Report outlines system upgrades, consumer protections, and community engagement initiatives COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Franklin County Auditor’s Office has released its 2025 Annual Report, outlining a year marked by system modernization, expanded consumer protection work, and increased outreach to residents across Franklin County. The report, published Wednesday by Michael Stinziano, details the office’s efforts to strengthen core public services while maintaining oversight of the county’s finances and property assessment processes. Officials say the document highlights operational milestones from the past year, including upgrades to tax accounting infrastructure and expanded community engagement programs. According to the report, the auditor’s office administered…

Community event at City Hall will feature local restaurants, live music and a charity fundraiser CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — A popular community fundraiser is returning to Cambridge after a seven-year absence, bringing local restaurants, residents and city leaders together in support of a charitable cause. The Mayor’s Soup Sampler will return to Cambridge City Hall on March 28 for the first time since 2019. The event — now branded as Souper G.O.A.T.’s (Greatest of All Time Community Soup Showdown) — will feature a variety of soups prepared by local restaurants, with proceeds supporting the Meals on Wheels program run by Community…

New workforce initiative aims to support up to 27,000 workers in key industries including steel, lumber and automotive manufacturing The federal and Ontario governments are investing more than $228 million to help workers affected by tariffs and global trade disruptions retrain and upgrade their skills, part of a broader effort to strengthen key industries and support employment across the province. Announced in Ottawa on March 10, the $228.8-million investment from the Government of Canada will fund the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response over the next three years. The program is expected to help as many as 27,000 Ontario workers develop new…

Funding will support 153 local organizations delivering community services, youth opportunities and cultural programming The Ontario government is committing more than $47 million this year to support community-based programs delivered by non-profit organizations, First Nations communities and small municipalities across the province. The investment, distributed through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), will fund 153 organizations working to expand programs focused on active living, arts and culture, youth opportunities and community well-being. Provincial officials say the funding is intended to strengthen local services while generating economic and social benefits in communities across Ontario. Announced by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and…

Province says reforms will streamline approvals, strengthen watershed management and support housing development The Ontario government is moving forward with plans to overhaul the province’s conservation authority system, proposing to consolidate the current 36 conservation authorities into nine regional entities in a bid to streamline services, reduce administrative duplication and support faster approvals for housing and infrastructure projects. The initiative, announced Tuesday by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, follows months of consultations with municipalities, conservation authorities, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders. The changes are intended to create a more consistent regulatory framework across the province while reinforcing…

British Columbia heavy-music festival returns to Armstrong for its 16th year with international and Canadian acts ARMSTRONG, B.C. — Armstrong MetalFest has announced the lineup for its 2026 edition, headlined by American extreme metal acts Rivers of Nihil and Dying Fetus, as the long-running British Columbia festival prepares to return for its 16th year this summer. Organizers say the two-day event will take place July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in the Okanagan community of Armstrong. The festival, known for drawing fans of heavy and extreme music from across Western Canada and the U.S., will once again…

Veteran Bernard Derible tasked with promoting Ontario’s defence industry and expanding export opportunities TORONTO — The Ontario government has appointed Bernard Derible as the province’s first-ever Ontario Military Defence Representative (OMDR), a new role aimed at strengthening the province’s position in the global defence supply chain and attracting international investment to its defence manufacturing sector. The position will focus on promoting Ontario’s defence industry in international markets, helping local companies secure export opportunities and positioning the province as a trusted supplier of defence equipment and advanced technologies to allied nations. Ontario officials say the role comes as Canada and its…

Redevelopment project aims to double hospital size and expand access to care across Simcoe County NEW TECUMSETH, Ont. — The Ontario government has officially broken ground on a major redevelopment of Stevenson Memorial Hospital, launching a $174-million expansion project that provincial officials say will significantly increase health-care capacity for residents of New Tecumseth and surrounding communities. The project will more than double the size of the hospital and expand critical services, forming part of Ontario’s broader strategy to strengthen the province’s health-care system through large-scale infrastructure investments. The redevelopment is expected to be completed by 2028. Provincial leaders say the…

Agency warns prolonged disruptions to Strait of Hormuz could shift oil market from surplus to deficit The International Energy Agency (IEA) is closely monitoring global energy markets and coordinating with governments worldwide as tensions escalate in the Middle East, raising concerns about potential disruptions to critical oil and gas supply routes. At the centre of the agency’s focus is the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s energy supplies pass. Around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade typically moves through the strait, along with nearly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas…

Multisectoral research initiative identifies behavioral and operational barriers to improve national vaccination coverage Quezon City, Philippines — Health authorities and international partners are advancing cervical cancer prevention efforts in the Philippines through a data-driven strategy aimed at strengthening human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs nationwide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, recently convened a multisectoral National Dissemination Forum to present findings from the field testing and validation of the Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) Tool for HPV vaccination. The research initiative examined how social, behavioral, and operational factors…