Author: Sophie Mitchell

Award-Winning Canadian Musical to Arrive at EA Rawlinson Centre Broadway North Theatre Company has announced that its 2026 summer feature production will be Come From Away, the internationally acclaimed Canadian musical inspired by the true events that unfolded in Gander, Newfoundland, following the September 11 attacks. Sponsored by The Malcolm Jenkins Family Foundation, the production will bring the celebrated story of compassion, resilience, and community to the stage of the EA Rawlinson Centre as audiences mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Originally developed by Canadian writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away tells the story of how the…

City Encourages Residents to Reduce Emissions Through Public Transportation The City of Prince Albert will offer free public transit services on Wednesday, June 3, as part of its participation in Clean Air Day celebrations across Canada. The initiative is intended to encourage residents to consider environmentally friendly transportation alternatives while raising awareness about the importance of improving air quality in local communities. All regular transit services will be free for the day, including Access Transit services for eligible users. “Residents are encouraged to ride the bus for free on Wednesday to help reduce air pollution and support environmentally friendly transportation…

Province backs increased Indigenous equity stake in critical Northern Ontario energy infrastructure project THUNDER BAY — The Ontario government is supporting a major expansion of First Nations ownership in the East-West Tie (EWT) Transmission Line, a move provincial officials say will strengthen Indigenous participation in energy infrastructure while supporting long-term economic growth across Northern Ontario. Through Ontario’s Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (IOFP), the province is providing a provincial guarantee of up to $75 million to support Bamkushwada LP’s increase in ownership from 3.5 per cent to 20 per cent in the transmission line project. The financing is backed by a…

New album arrives May 29, 2026, blending indie rock, orchestral pop and classic songwriting influences Chicago songwriter and multi-instrumentalist MV Wells is stepping into a new creative chapter with the release of Le Dauphin, a debut solo album that combines orchestral pop arrangements, indie rock textures and classic melodic songwriting into a polished yet unconventional collection of songs. Scheduled for release on May 29, 2026, the album marks a stylistic shift for Wells, who has spent the past decade embedded in Chicago’s independent music scene through projects including NE-HI and Spun Out. While those bands leaned into scrappier guitar-driven sounds…

Alberta Heavy Rock Band Builds Momentum Toward Self-Titled Album Launch in August 2026 Edmonton-based heavy rock band Famous Strangers has released its latest single, “Ghosts of Men,” offering fans another preview of the group’s forthcoming self-titled debut album scheduled for release on August 21, 2026. The track arrives as the band continues to build momentum following a series of singles and music videos released throughout 2024 and 2025. Co-produced with Phil Anderson, mixed by Joel Wanasek, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum, the album represents the band’s first full-length studio project after years of development within Alberta’s rock scene. “Ghosts of…

Proposed expansion aims to protect Oak Ridges Moraine lands while supporting tourism and recreation growth The Ontario government is moving forward with plans to expand Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park by 23 acres as part of a broader effort to preserve environmentally significant lands and improve access to outdoor recreation in fast-growing communities across the Greater Toronto Area. The proposed addition, announced Thursday by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, would add approximately 23 acres of land — roughly the size of 12 Canadian football fields — to the park’s northern boundary. Provincial officials say the expansion would help…

Prime Video confirms Mika Abdalla and Stephen Kalyn as the central couple in the next chapter of the hit college drama Prime Video has confirmed that Season Two of its breakout young adult drama Off Campus will centre on the evolving romance between Allie Hayes and Dean Di Laurentis, as the streaming platform looks to build on the strong global performance of the series’ debut season. Returning cast members Mika Abdalla and Stephen Kalyn will take leading roles in the upcoming season, reprising their characters after their storyline was introduced during the first season of the adaptation based on Elle…

Toronto queer BIPOC rock artist releases first single as part of long-awaited album project Toronto-based rock artist Feura has released her debut single “Lose Your Head,” marking the arrival of a new voice in Canada’s independent rock scene with a track that confronts identity, exclusion, and social pressure head-on. The single, released Friday, was funded through support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Toronto Arts Council. Written by Korol Pikulik, Alexandra Jelilyan, and Marc Koecher, the song was produced by Illegal Audio, the production partnership of Marc Koecher and Lexie Jay, and mastered by Kristian Montano. Feura,…

Funding Expansion Supports More Than 400 Programs Across Ontario The Ontario government is investing $22.8 million in Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) programs as the province marks 60 years of supporting services aimed at helping older adults remain active, healthy and socially connected in their communities. The funding announcement was made Friday at Life After Fifty in Windsor, one of Ontario’s earliest active living centres, and comes ahead of Seniors Month celebrations across the province in June. According to the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, the investment will support more than 400 SALC programs provincewide, continuing Ontario’s efforts to expand…

Local Emerging Artists to Perform Across 14 Festival Nights at Del Crary Park Peterborough Musicfest and Cogeco are expanding the Future Sound Series for the 2026 festival season, increasing the number of performances featuring emerging local artists as the long-running Ontario music festival continues to invest in regional talent development and community-based live entertainment. The expanded initiative will feature performances on 14 of the festival’s 16 concert nights this summer at Del Crary Park in Peterborough, Ont., providing artists from Peterborough and the Kawarthas with greater exposure ahead of the festival’s mainstage headlining acts. The Future Sound Series, which debuted…