Author: Sophie Mitchell

Award recipients recognized for strengthening communities through service, leadership and advocacy TORONTO — The Ontario government has recognized 18 exceptional seniors with the 2025 Ontario Senior Achievement Award, celebrating their outstanding contributions to communities across the province and beyond. The annual award honours seniors who, after the age of 65, have made significant and lasting contributions through volunteerism, community leadership, public service, charitable fundraising and humanitarian efforts. This year’s recipients were recognized during a ceremony at Queen’s Park on June 22, hosted by the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. The…

Funding through Building Faster Fund recognizes municipality’s housing growth and infrastructure planning efforts CHATHAM-KENT, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the Municipality of Chatham-Kent $440,000 through the third round of the Building Faster Fund after the community significantly exceeded its provincially assigned housing target in 2025. The funding is being provided to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing targets and is intended to support infrastructure projects that facilitate housing development and accommodate population growth. Chatham-Kent’s performance stood out among participating municipalities, with 577 housing starts recorded in 2025—representing 525 per cent of its…

Industry Leaders Gather to Advance Nuclear Growth, Workforce Development and Supply Chain Opportunities CAMBRIDGE, Ontario — The City of Cambridge brought together nearly 200 leaders from Ontario’s nuclear sector on June 22 for the 2026 Nuclear Summit, an event aimed at strengthening collaboration across industry, government, education and skilled trades as the province accelerates its nuclear energy expansion. Hosted by Mayor Jan Liggett and the City of Cambridge under the theme “Rise to the Occasion,” the summit highlighted the city’s growing role in Ontario’s nuclear ecosystem. Participants included industry executives, government officials, skilled trades representatives and post-secondary institutions focused on…

Funding through Futurpreneur expected to support nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs and create more than 3,800 future jobs TORONTO — The Ontario government is expanding its support for young entrepreneurs with a new $6 million investment in Futurpreneur, a national non-profit organization that provides financing, mentorship and business development resources to aspiring business owners. The funding, announced by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, is expected to help nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 39 start, acquire or expand businesses across the province. The government says the initiative will support the creation of more than 3,800…

Two-Day Festival in Millet to Feature Riot City, The Convalescence, Squidhammer and More Than Two Dozen Performers Western Canada’s underground metal scene is preparing for one of its signature summer events as Decimate Metalfest (DMF) returns to the Millet Agriplex Arena in Millet, Alberta, on June 26 and 27, 2026. The all-ages festival is expected to draw music fans, artists and performers from across Canada and the United States for a weekend celebrating heavy music, independent arts and community engagement. What began as a grassroots gathering for metal enthusiasts has evolved into a multi-day cultural event that combines live music,…

Innovative Stroke Care Helps Maple Ridge Resident Recover and Reduce Future Risk A Maple Ridge man who suffered a stroke at just 37 years old is sharing his experience as physicians at Royal Columbian Hospital highlight the role of advanced technology and innovative treatment in reducing the risk of future strokes among younger patients. Collin Smith vividly remembers the morning his life changed. “It was last fall and I was warming up our car while my wife buckled our daughter into her car seat,” says the 37-year-old Maple Ridge resident. “My fingers started going numb and my face felt like…

Funding Supports 15 Ducks Unlimited Canada Projects Across the Lake Ontario Watershed GRAND VALLEY, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing $3.1 million in wetland restoration and enhancement projects across the Lake Ontario watershed as part of its broader strategy to strengthen flood protection, improve water quality and increase climate resilience in communities across the province. The funding, announced by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, will support 15 projects led by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). The projects are expected to restore and enhance 136 acres of wetlands in locations including Ajax, Hastings County and Kingston. The investment…

Ontario Backs Life Sciences Expansion With $61 Million Investment to Support Jobs and Innovation First round of Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund leverages nearly $75 million in investment and supports more than 660 jobs across Ontario MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing in the continued growth of the province’s life sciences sector, supporting $61 million in investments by 11 health technology companies through the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) as part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing, commercialize innovative health technologies and create high-quality jobs. The announcement marks the completion of the first round of the provincial…

New education technology initiative aims to improve student outcomes and provide teachers with real-time learning insights TORONTO — The Ontario government is investing $60 million in a new provincewide digital learning platform designed to modernize classroom resources, improve student achievement and provide educators with enhanced tools to monitor academic progress. The initiative will provide teachers across Ontario’s 72 school boards with access to curriculum-aligned educational materials while giving students interactive learning tools intended to support engagement and achievement. The investment forms part of the province’s broader strategy to modernize education and strengthen consistency in learning experiences regardless of where students…

Agreement targets growth in energy, manufacturing, critical minerals and advanced technologies GREENVILLE, S.C. — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at deepening trade and economic cooperation between the two jurisdictions, marking the latest step in Ontario’s strategy to strengthen cross-border partnerships and advance its “Building Fortress North America” economic agenda. The agreement, signed Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina, focuses on expanding collaboration across a range of strategic industries, including energy, nuclear technology, critical minerals, automotive and electric-vehicle manufacturing, aerospace, agri-food and life sciences. The pact comes shortly…