Author: Sophie Mitchell

Veteran Canadian performer headlines opening night of waterfront festival PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — Peterborough Musicfest is set to begin its 39th season this week, welcoming Canadian rock icon Gowan back to the Fred Anderson Stage as the long-running festival launches another summer of free live music in the city. The season opener takes place on Saturday, June 27, at Del Crary Park, where Gowan will headline the opening-night concert beginning at 8 p.m. The performance marks the singer-songwriter’s fourth appearance at the festival, reinforcing his status as one of the event’s most popular returning artists. Organizers say the opening concert will…

Regional housing initiative aims to attract and retain healthcare workers across North Island communities CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. — The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has opened the waitlist for its new Health Professionals Housing (HPH) facility in Campbell River, marking a significant step in efforts to strengthen healthcare recruitment and retention across northern Vancouver Island. The housing project, located near Campbell River Hospital, is scheduled to welcome its first residents in September and is designed to provide flexible accommodation options for healthcare professionals at various stages of their careers. The facility is intended to support a broad range of healthcare workers,…

Fraser Health Announces Planned Emergency Department Interruptions Through Early July SURREY, B.C. — Fraser Health has announced a series of temporary service interruptions at the Emergency Department of Mission Memorial Hospital, citing ongoing physician staffing challenges that have left several emergency physician shifts unfilled over the coming weeks. The planned disruptions will affect emergency department operations during specific evening and overnight periods between June 20 and July 5. Health officials said the temporary closures are necessary to ensure patient safety while the health authority continues efforts to recruit and retain emergency physicians. The scheduled service interruptions are as follows: June…

Health officials encourage precautions as outdoor activity increases during summer TORONTO — As Ontarians spend more time outdoors during the summer months, the provincial government is reminding residents to take preventive measures against tick bites amid ongoing concerns about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The Ministry of Health issued its annual summer advisory on Thursday, urging people to remain vigilant while enjoying parks, trails and other outdoor spaces. Health officials say infected blacklegged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks, can be found across much of Ontario, increasing the risk of exposure to Lyme disease and other illnesses transmitted through…

Building Faster Fund Supports New Homes and Infrastructure Growth BRANTFORD, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Brantford $4 million through the third round of the Building Faster Fund after the municipality 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-start targets. Brantford surpassed its goal by a substantial margin, breaking ground on 1,612 new homes during 2025 — 161 per cent of its target. Provincial officials say the investment will help support additional housing development and critical infrastructure…

Strathcona Regional District Seeks Election Officials Ahead of 2026 Local Elections Community members invited to support voting and ballot counting processes for October election CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. — The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is calling on residents to take an active role in the democratic process by applying to serve as election officials for the 2026 General Local Elections and General School Elections. With General Local Election Day scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, the regional district has begun recruiting individuals to help administer voting and ballot-counting activities across the region. The recruitment effort comes as election preparations continue in…

SARNIA, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Sarnia $400,000 through the third round of the Building Faster Fund after the municipality dramatically exceeded its provincially assigned housing target in 2025, highlighting the city’s role in supporting housing development and economic growth across the province. The funding is part of Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, a program designed to encourage municipalities to accelerate residential construction by rewarding those that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing targets. According to the province, Sarnia broke ground on 654 new homes in 2025, achieving 654 per cent of…

Original Lullabies Take Centre Stage at Allied Music Centre TORONTO — The Lullaby Project Celebration Concert returned to the Allied Music Centre Theatre on June 13, bringing together families, artists, and community organizations for an evening that showcased the power of music to strengthen family bonds and support new parents. The annual event featured 11 original lullabies, each created through collaborations between participating parents and professional artists. The songs were performed live for the first time, marking a significant milestone for families involved in the program. Parents and children from community partners Jessie’s Centre, Birth Mark, and University Health Network…

Alberta craft distillery secures Best Canadian London Dry Gin title and places among the world’s top five young spirits Alberta-based Anohka Distillery has strengthened its position on the international spirits stage after receiving major honours at two of the industry’s most respected global competitions. The family-owned craft distillery announced that its Tempest Dry Gin was named Best Canadian London Dry Gin at the 2026 World Gin Awards, while its This Is Not Whisky Alberta Single Malt Spirit was recognized as a Global Finalist among the top five New Make and Young Spirits in the world at the 2026 World Whiskies…

Coroner’s Office to Examine Circumstances Surrounding 2020 Death Following Interaction with Toronto Police TORONTO — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has announced that a mandatory inquest will be held into the death of Sam Mirza, a 30-year-old man who died following an interaction with officers from the Toronto Police Service in 2020. The announcement was made by Dr. Jennifer M. Dmetrichuk, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Toronto East Region, who confirmed that the inquest will proceed under the requirements of Ontario’s Coroners Act. Mr. Mirza died on April 30, 2020, after an encounter with Toronto Police Service officers earlier…