Author: Sophie Mitchell

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is encouraging residents to reconnect with loved ones and support local businesses as the province marks Family Day, highlighting both the social and economic importance of the mid-winter holiday. In a statement released Monday by the Premier’s Office, Ford framed the February holiday as an opportunity for Ontarians to strengthen personal ties while contributing to their local economies during a typically slower retail period. “Today, as family and friends across Ontario take time to enjoy this Family Day holiday, I encourage everyone across the province to take the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones…

Canada’s Abigail Strate Blown into 11th in Big Hill Ski Jumping at Olympic Games PREDAZZO, Italy — Canadian ski jumper Abigail Strate’s bid for a second Olympic medal was undone by unpredictable wind conditions, leaving the Calgary athlete in 11th place in the women’s large hill final at the 2026 Winter Games. The 24-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, posted a combined score of 243.6 points from jumps of 117 and 131.5 metres. The result matched her 11th-place finish from the normal hill event earlier in the Games but fell short of her medal ambitions after a promising start in…

CORTINA, Italy — Canada’s skeleton team delivered a performance defined as much by experience and mentorship as by results this week, with veteran Jane Channell and Olympic rookie Hallie Clarke finishing outside medal contention in a demanding four-run Olympic race that underscored the unforgiving margins of elite sliding sport. Channell, competing in her third Olympic Games, finished 18th with a combined time of 3:52.96, while Clarke, 21, placed 19th in 3:53.02 at the technically challenging 1,445-metre track in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The competition, staged amid the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites, rewarded consistency across four heats — something both Canadians struggled…

ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA, Italy — Canada will have four biathletes competing in upcoming Olympic pursuit races after Adam Runnalls led a trio of Canadian men and Benita Peiffer delivered a career-best performance in sprint competition at the Olympic Winter Games. Runnalls, a 27-year-old from Calgary, set the pace for Canada in the men’s 10-kilometre sprint, finishing 31st with a time of 25:02.5. His result, built on a combination of efficient skiing and accurate shooting, secured his position among the top 60 athletes who advance to the 12.5-kilometre pursuit race. “The skis were great today. I did my first lap with Zach (Connelly).…

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has scheduled a coroner’s inquest into the 2021 death of a 26-year-old man while in custody at a provincial correctional facility, with proceedings set to begin early next month. Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Central Office, confirmed that the inquest into the death of Colin Pyne will commence at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. In a statement released February 13, 2026, Dr. Peckham said a date has been scheduled for the inquest into the death of Colin Pyne. Mr. Pyne died on August 17, 2021, while in…

The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced a mandatory inquest into the 2021 death of Michael Anthony Diodati, a 61-year-old man who died after being transferred from custody to hospital care in Niagara Falls. In a statement issued February 13, 2026, the ministry said the inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Diodati’s death and determine whether any recommendations should be made to prevent similar fatalities in the future. “Dr. Ian MacPhee, Regional Supervising Coroner, announced today that an inquest will be held into the death of Michael Anthony Diodati.” Mr. Diodati died on November 11, 2021, at…

The Ontario government is investing $1.5 million to support the 2026 International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) World Championships in Ottawa, an 11-day global sporting event projected to draw more than 100,000 visits and generate an estimated $25 million in economic activity. The funding, announced Thursday by the Ministry of Sport, is aimed at helping deliver the championships from Sept. 9 to Sept. 19, 2026. The province says the investment aligns with its broader strategy to grow sport tourism, create jobs and strengthen local economies by attracting major international events. “Ontario is proud to host the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball Championships…

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has issued a landmark decision affirming that Canadians and permanent residents have a constitutional right to move freely within the country for any purpose, marking the first time the nation’s top court has explicitly recognized such a broad interpretation of mobility rights under the Charter. In its ruling in Taylor v. Newfoundland and Labrador, the Court concluded that section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects not only the right to reside and work in any province, but also the right to travel freely between and within provinces for any…

TORONTO — The Ontario government has reached an agreement with global spirits maker Diageo that will see nearly $23 million in new investments directed into the province’s agri-food, manufacturing and beverage alcohol supply chains, while safeguarding jobs and ensuring continued market access for its flagship brands. The deal follows months of discussions between Queen’s Park and the producer of Crown Royal after concerns were raised last year about the planned closure of the company’s facility in Amherstburg, near Windsor. Provincial officials had signalled that companies benefiting from Ontario’s marketplace would be expected to maintain local commitments. Premier Doug Ford said…

The Ontario government is opening a new intake of funding under its $210-million Road Safety Initiatives Fund (RSIF), offering municipalities additional support for traffic-calming projects in school and community safety zones following the province’s ban on municipal speed cameras. The next application window opens February 19, 2026, the Ministry of Transportation said Thursday. The funding is intended to help municipalities implement what the province describes as proven safety measures that do not increase costs for drivers or taxpayers. “Our government is protecting Ontario by keeping costs down for drivers while ensuring our roads remain among the safest in North America,”…