Author: Sophie Mitchell

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — The City of Cambridge is investing $1.5 million to support the Cambridge Food Bank’s planned move to a larger facility, as rising food insecurity drives increased demand for its services. City officials announced the funding Wednesday, describing the contribution as a strategic investment to help the organization relocate to 384 Franklin Boulevard and expand its capacity to serve residents across Cambridge and nearby North Dumfries. “With the current location having reached its limits, the City is proud to support the Cambridge Food Bank’s move and help ensure all those living in Cambridge have access to the food…

Regular public transit service has resumed in Prince Albert, Sask., after severe winter weather forced disruptions last week, restoring a key service relied upon by residents and local businesses for commuting and daily travel. Prince Albert Transit confirmed in its latest service update that “regular service” is now back in operation following last week’s snowfall, with all routes and stops open to passengers. The restoration of service marks a return to normal operations for the city’s transit network, which plays an essential role in supporting workforce mobility, access to retail centres, and connectivity across the northern Saskatchewan community. According to…

TORONTO — Canadian jazz pianist and composer Steve Holt has secured a 2026 nomination from the JUNO Awards for Jazz Album of the Year, a recognition that marks a significant career milestone and underscores renewed attention on his latest recording, IMPACT. The nomination highlights Holt’s leadership of the Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet and positions the 2025 release among the country’s top jazz recordings. Holt said the recognition came as a surprise. “IMPACT was made with intention, honesty, and letting great musicians bring the music fully to life. Being nominated for a JUNO is an honour I truly didn’t expect.”…

TORONTO — The Ontario government is rolling out a new dementia care program in long-term care homes and expanding specialized behavioural units as part of a multi-million-dollar effort to improve care for some of the province’s most vulnerable residents. The province announced Tuesday it will invest $9 million over three years in its Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP), which has selected its first 17 participating long-term care homes. The initiative aims to introduce emotion-based care models and provide staff with specialized training to better support residents living with dementia. “Our government is investing in dementia care and supports to improve…

After four years without releasing new material, The Mandevilles have returned with a new single that could mark a pivotal moment for the independent Canadian rock act and its label. The Welland, Ont.-based band released “Every Bit Of Violence” this week through Snareguy Records, ending what had been a prolonged silence from one of the Niagara region’s most established rock exports. The track blends the band’s signature rock foundation with modern alternative influences, reflecting both creative growth and a changing music landscape that increasingly rewards artists who can evolve while maintaining a core identity. Founded by longtime musical partners Serena…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The City of Prince Albert will carry out a controlled burn of clean wood at its municipal landfill on Feb. 24, a routine operational measure authorized under provincial environmental regulations and coordinated with local and provincial safety agencies. City officials said the burn will take place at the Prince Albert Landfill and is part of ongoing landfill management activities. The burn has been approved under the landfill’s operating permit issued by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment, ensuring it meets regulatory requirements for environmental protection and public safety. Municipal landfills commonly use controlled burns to reduce stockpiles of…

Construction has begun on a long-planned bridge across the Berens River in northwestern Ontario, a project provincial and federal officials say will improve supply chains, create jobs and unlock economic opportunities for several remote First Nations. The Ontario government, alongside Pikangikum First Nation, the Whitefeather Forest Community Resource Management Authority and the federal government, has entered the construction phase of a permanent bridge that will connect Pikangikum First Nation to year-round road access for the first time. The project is also expected to improve winter road connections for six additional remote communities north of Red Lake and eliminate the need…

WASHINGTON — Farmers and environmental organizations have launched a new legal challenge against the Environmental Protection Agency, arguing its latest approval of the controversial herbicide dicamba ignores court rulings, scientific evidence and the interests of growers harmed by chemical drift. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court by a coalition that includes the National Family Farm Coalition, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Food Safety and Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network, challenges the EPA’s decision to re-register dicamba for use on genetically engineered soybeans and cotton. The decision marks the latest chapter in a years-long dispute over dicamba,…

An inquest will be held into the death of Evan Freeman, a 22-year-old man who died in 2019 following an interaction with police in Kingston, Ontario, the provincial government announced Monday. In a news release issued Feb. 23, the Ministry of the Solicitor General said the proceeding has been formally called by Dr. Armita Rahmani, Regional Supervising Coroner for the East Region based in Kingston. “Dr. Armita Rahmani, Regional Supervising Coroner, East Region, Kingston Office, has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Evan Freeman.” Freeman died on Sept. 12, 2019, the same day as his…

The Loud As Hell Open Air Festival will return to Drumheller, Alta., from July 31 to Aug. 2, 2026, with a lineup organizers say reinforces its position as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme-music economy and a growing draw for tourism in the province’s Badlands. Now entering its 14th edition, the outdoor heavy-metal gathering combines live music with camping, performance art and on-site vendors, attracting fans from across Canada and abroad. Set at the Dinosaurs Down Stampede grounds, the festival contributes to the local visitor economy through accommodation bookings, food and beverage sales, and related spending in the region. Festival organizers…