Author: Sophie Mitchell

City Encourages Residents to Switch to Free Email Billing Service The City of Prince Albert is reminding residents that mailed paper copies of water utility bills will soon come with an added cost, as the municipality moves to encourage wider adoption of electronic billing services. Beginning June 1, 2026, customers who continue receiving printed utility bills by mail will be charged a $2 fee per bill. City officials say residents can avoid the added charge by signing up for free email billing before May 31. The change is part of the City’s broader effort to reduce administrative and mailing expenses…

City says testing and monitoring continue to meet provincial standards The City of Prince Albert has released its 2025 Drinking Water Quality and Compliance Report, confirming that the municipality continues to meet or exceed provincial drinking water standards while maintaining compliance with regulatory monitoring and sampling requirements. The report provides residents with an overview of the City’s drinking water quality performance from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, including details on testing procedures, regulatory compliance, and operational reporting obligations tied to Saskatchewan’s water management framework. Municipal officials said the annual disclosure is required under provincial regulations overseen by the Saskatchewan…

Veteran Coach Returns to Canada to Rebuild Program Ahead of Next Olympic Cycle Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton has appointed longtime coach and former Olympian Dennis Marineau as head coach of its national bobsleigh program, marking a significant leadership shift as the organization looks to rebuild and strengthen its high-performance system ahead of the next Olympic quadrennial. The Calgary-based organization announced Tuesday that Marineau will return to Canada after four years with the U.S. bobsleigh program, bringing more than three decades of coaching and Olympic experience to the role. Marineau, a two-time Olympic bobsleigh pilot who represented Canada from 1984 to 1994,…

Province introduces new funding streams focused on leadership opportunities and economic independence The Ontario government is investing $11 million over two years through a newly launched Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy (WELL) Fund aimed at helping more women enter high-demand industries while also providing support for survivors of human trafficking seeking financial independence and long-term stability. Announced Tuesday in Newmarket, the initiative will provide funding for projects that support women pursuing careers in sectors such as clean energy, construction and technology, while also expanding education, employment and recovery supports for survivors of trafficking. According to the province, the WELL Fund…

Napanee Battery Energy Storage System to Support Grid Reliability and Peak Demand The Ontario government has completed one of Canada’s largest battery energy storage facilities, marking a significant milestone in the province’s long-term strategy to strengthen electricity reliability, support economic growth and expand clean energy infrastructure. Announced Tuesday by Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce, the Napanee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has officially entered commercial operation approximately five weeks ahead of schedule and within its $600-million budget. Located in Napanee, Ontario, the 250-megawatt facility is capable of supplying electricity to as many as 250,000 homes for up…

Province aims to boost tourism, hospitality and local business activity during global soccer tournament TORONTO — The Ontario government will temporarily allow licensed bars and restaurants across the province to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, a move aimed at supporting tourism, hospitality businesses and workers as Canada hosts part of the international tournament next summer. The extended service hours will apply from June 11 to July 19, 2026, according to an announcement released Tuesday by the Ministry of the Attorney General. Ontario’s standard last call for alcohol service is currently 2 a.m. The province…

Environmental Group Claims Pacific Seafood Violated Clean Water Act at Quilcene Bay Facility Hatchery operations allegedly discharged excess wastewater and heat into sensitive marine habitat QUILCENE, Wash. — Environmental advocacy organization Center for Food Safety has announced plans to sue two Pacific Seafood-affiliated companies over alleged violations of the U.S. Clean Water Act tied to shellfish hatchery operations in Washington State. The proposed legal action targets Dulcich, Incorporated and Pacific Shellfish—Quilcene, LLC, collectively referred to by the group as Pacific Seafood. According to the notice of intent filed by the organization, the companies allegedly discharged wastewater and excess heat beyond…

“New Beginnings” and “Don’t Break My Heart” Mark First Release Through New Sun Music Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Alicia Kayley is making her commercial debut with the release of two singles, “New Beginnings” and “Don’t Break My Heart,” through New Sun Music, the Nashville-linked label founded by Grammy-nominated artist Crystal Shawanda. The simultaneous release positions Kayley as one of the emerging Indigenous voices in Canada’s contemporary Pop/R&B and Blues/Soul landscape. Dubbed the “Indigenous Adele” by the Ottawa Citizen, the Algonquin and Tahltan Nation artist is entering the national music market with a project designed to showcase both emotional depth and commercial crossover…

Toronto dinosaur-metal band expands global reach with debut full-length album featuring major names from the rock and metal world TORONTO — Toronto-based music project Howdytoons, which has amassed more than 1.5 billion YouTube streams and over 50 million Spotify plays through its dinosaur-themed rock catalogue, has released “Smilodon,” the lead single from its debut full-length album, Megafauna Metal. The release marks a major milestone for the Canadian band, which has evolved from a niche children’s music experiment into an internationally streamed heavy metal project supported by prominent musicians from the global rock scene. Written by Mike Whitla and his son…

Wolf Parade songwriter returns with a piano-driven record shaped by life on Vancouver Island Canadian indie rock songwriter Spencer Krug is set to release his new solo album Same Fangs on May 15, 2026, marking another chapter in a career that has quietly helped define the outer edges of modern indie music for more than two decades. Issued through Pronounced Kroog, the album arrives as renewed attention gathers around Krug’s catalogue following the resurgence of Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything” through Netflix’s Heated Rivalry. The renewed exposure has introduced a younger audience to a body of work spanning Wolf…