Author: Sophie Mitchell

Organizations urge provincial government to coordinate election access for eligible voters in correctional centres Three British Columbia advocacy organizations are calling on the provincial government to take immediate action to ensure eligible voters held in provincial correctional centres can participate in the province’s October 17, 2026 general local elections. In a joint letter released Thursday, the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Prisoners’ Legal Services urged the provincial government to provide coordinated guidance and operational support to ensure that incarceration does not prevent legally eligible electors from exercising their right to vote. The…

Casting announcement made during San Diego Comic-Con as animated series returns July 31 Prime Video has announced that Matthew Needham, best known for his role in House of the Dragon, will voice The Joker in the second season of the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader. The casting was revealed during the show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con, where fans also received an exclusive first look at the upcoming season. The announcement came during a panel featuring executive producers James Tucker and Geoffrey Thorne, alongside cast members Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung, and Needham. The event began with the world premiere screening…

The Caribbean has long been synonymous with powdery beaches, but for a growing number of travelers, the real draw lies beneath the surface. A cultural day in Cap Cana exploring Taino heritage offers a window into the island’s indigenous past, where the Taino people once thrived across Hispaniola before European contact, in order to understand the layers of identity that make the Dominican Republic more than a postcard destination. From language and spiritual beliefs to crafts and cuisine, Taino culture continues to play an important role in the daily lives of Dominicans. For those seeking what to see in Punta…

Family drama, literary adaptations and factual programming headline August slate for North American audiences BritBox is strengthening its August programming lineup with the return of its original period drama The Hardacres for a second season, alongside the addition of the 2018 adaptation of Vanity Fair, as the streaming platform continues to expand its catalogue of British drama and entertainment for viewers across North America. The new season of The Hardacres premieres on August 5, while Vanity Fair joins the service on August 19, offering subscribers two high-profile period dramas centred on ambition, family, romance and social change. The Hardacres stars…

Ontario Festival to Premiere Previously Unreleased Gene DiNovi Composition During Three-Day Celebration of Canadian Music The South Coast Jazz Festival is set to return for its 13th edition from Aug. 14 to 16, bringing a weekend of performances, educational programming and cultural events to Brantford and Port Dover, Ontario. This year’s festival will feature the world premiere of previously unreleased music by acclaimed Canadian jazz pianist Gene DiNovi, alongside a lineup of Canadian artists representing jazz, blues, folk, Indigenous music and multilingual performances. Over the past 13 years, the festival has evolved from a single community event into a significant…

Veteran Toronto Performer Brings Decades of Caribbean, Soul and Blues Influence to Waterfront Concert TORONTO — Toronto soul and reggae legend Jay Douglas will take centre stage at Harbourfront Centre on Aug. 1, bringing more than four decades of musical experience to the city’s waterfront as the headline performer for Blues and Reggae Night at The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre. Douglas will be joined by acclaimed Toronto vocalist Liberty Silver for an evening celebrating the city’s rich musical heritage, blending blues, reggae, soul and Caribbean rhythms in a performance that highlights the enduring influence of Toronto’s Black music community.…

New single introduces expanded sound as ‘Goodbye Summertime’ arrives Sept. 16 on Dandy Boy Records Oakland-based power pop band The Goods has released “Summer’s Almost Gone,” the lead single from its upcoming album Goodbye Summertime, offering listeners an early look at a record that broadens the group’s signature guitar-driven sound while remaining rooted in melodic songwriting. The single became publicly available on July 22, with the full-length album scheduled for release on September 16 through Dandy Boy Records. Arriving less than a year after the band’s debut LP, Don’t Spoil the Fun, the new release marks a creative evolution for…

Province backs 2027 leadership initiative following interprovincial accessibility agreement TORONTO — The Ontario government is investing $400,000 in the Rick Hansen Foundation to support a national Youth Leadership Summit in 2027, an initiative designed to equip young Canadians with the skills and knowledge to promote accessibility and inclusion in their communities. The funding announcement comes after Premier Doug Ford joined provincial and territorial leaders in signing a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening accessibility standards and reducing physical barriers for Canadians with disabilities. The investment reflects Ontario’s broader strategy to improve accessibility through partnerships, community initiatives and leadership…

Gore Mutual and Foundation Commit More Than $5 Million Ahead of Planned Beneva Integration CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — The Cambridge Recreation Complex will be renamed the Beneva Recreation Complex after Cambridge City Council approved a sponsorship and community investment package worth more than $5.2 million from Gore Mutual and the Gore Mutual Insurance Foundation, marking a significant milestone for one of the city’s largest public infrastructure projects. The investment comes as Gore Mutual prepares for its planned integration with Beneva in 2027. Beneva, Canada’s largest mutual insurer, serves more than 3.8 million members across the country. The new facility is expected…

BCCLA Calls for Public Scrutiny as Inquest Examines Circumstances Surrounding 2022 RCMP Wellness Check A coroner’s inquest into the death of Haida Elder Jimmie Johannesson will begin on July 27 in Burnaby, marking a significant legal proceeding that will examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting during a wellness check in Surrey in 2022. The hearings, scheduled to run from July 27 through August 5 at Burnaby Coroners’ Court, will focus on establishing the facts surrounding Johannesson’s death rather than determining legal fault. The proceedings are expected to consider evidence related to the RCMP response, while a jury may…