Author: Sophie Mitchell

Ontario is marking the first year of its $2.1-billion Primary Care Action Plan, reporting early progress in connecting residents to family doctors, nurse practitioners and team-based primary care as the province works toward its goal of ensuring every Ontarian has a regular provider by 2029. In a news release issued Monday, the Ministry of Health said the initiative has already attached more than 275,000 new patients to a primary care provider since launch, putting Ontario “on track to meet or exceed” its 2025-26 target of connecting 300,000 new people to care. The plan is a central part of the government’s…

Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner will convene an inquest into the death of Jennifer Fellinger, a 31-year-old woman who died in hospital in 2019 after being transferred from the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton, the Ministry of the Solicitor General said Monday. Dr. Karen Schiff, the Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region at the Hamilton Office, announced the inquest on Jan. 12. The proceeding is mandatory under Ontario’s Coroners Act, which requires an inquest in certain circumstances, including deaths involving individuals in custody. Ms. Fellinger “died in hospital on February 12, 2019, after being transferred from the…

Peachtree Entertainment is bringing back its Rock The Country Tour in 2026, expanding the multi-city festival concept to eight U.S. stops as the country marks its 250th anniversary. Announced Monday in Nashville, the tour is positioned as a two-day, rotating-lineup festival series aimed at small-town markets, combining major touring acts with emerging artists and upgraded on-site amenities. The company said each weekend will feature a different lineup and a mix of music, “patriotism, and community.” The 2026 tour schedule includes stops in Texas, Georgia, South Dakota, Kentucky, South Carolina, Michigan, Florida, and New York, with events running from May through…

The festive season is the perfect time to treat gamers to unforgettable adventures, immersive storytelling, and high-energy gameplay that lasts long after the decorations are put away. Whether you’re curating a Christmas guide for family, friends, or an audience of gaming enthusiasts, this year’s lineup delivers experiences that blend innovation with nostalgia in extraordinary ways. The holidays aren’t just about exchanging gifts — they’re about creating memories, and few gifts accomplish that better than the latest must-play gaming releases. Gaming continues to be one of the world’s most popular entertainment mediums, and understanding its evolution offers valuable insight into why…

TORONTO — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has set the date for a mandatory inquest into the death of Martin Gordyn, a 27-year-old man who died in January 2021 following an interaction with the Niagara Regional Police Service. The proceeding, announced Friday by the Ministry of the Solicitor General, will begin December 1, 2025, and is expected to run for seven days. Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Hamilton Office, confirmed the schedule and key appointments for the inquest, which will be held entirely by video conference. “Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner, West Region,…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The City of Prince Albert’s Budget Committee has completed its three-day deliberation process for the 2026 municipal budget, reducing the amount required from property taxes after a detailed examination of departmental spending and cost pressures across the organization. The committee began its review with an initial projected taxation requirement of $4,422,153. Following internal adjustments, targeted reductions and policy discussions, that figure has been lowered by $1,112,686 to $3,309,467, representing a significant shift aimed at easing the financial burden on local residents. City officials said the reduction reflects months of internal scrutiny as departments confronted cost pressures…

Canada’s skeleton program opened its World Cup campaign with a strong showing on the newly built Olympic track in Cortina, Italy, where Hallie Clarke and Jane Channell both delivered top-15 results in the first major international test of the season. Clarke, 20, led the Canadian contingent with a sixth-place finish, demonstrating consistency on a course that will host the skeleton events at the upcoming 2026 Winter Games. Channell, a two-time Olympian, secured 15th place, closing out a performance that underscored both the experience and emerging depth within Canada’s women’s skeleton team. “I’m really happy with how I’ve started this year.…

TORONTO — Ontario students will receive new standardized Remembrance Day learning resources beginning in 2026, as the province moves to strengthen classroom instruction and ensure consistent commemoration practices across its publicly funded schools. The Ministry of Education announced Friday that it will roll out a suite of curriculum supports and classroom tools over the next year, aimed at helping teachers deliver more comprehensive lessons on Canada’s military history and the significance of Nov. 11. The initiative, unveiled in a formal statement from Education Minister Paul Calandra, is positioned as part of the province’s ongoing effort to reinforce civic understanding and…

Ontario is moving ahead with a major restoration and redevelopment effort at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, committing $4.75 million to repair extensive storm damage and turn the popular Mattawa-area destination into a four-season tourism draw. The provincial government announced the investment Friday, describing the project as both an economic boost for nearby communities and a long-term plan to modernize a park severely hit by a destructive downburst storm in June. The site has remained closed since the event, which toppled thousands of trees, damaged infrastructure and forced the evacuation of roughly 300 visitors. “The storm was one of the…

The City of Cambridge is renewing its partnership with the Salvation Army this holiday season by providing free space for the organization’s annual Toy Mountain toy drive, a program that supplies thousands of local children with gifts each Christmas. Municipal officials say the arrangement reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to supporting community-based social services, particularly during a period of heightened need. The city announced Friday that the first floor of the Preston Scout House has been made available at no cost to the Salvation Army for use as its 2025 toy donation and distribution hub. The location will serve as…