Author: Sophie Mitchell

BCCLA and Policing-Free Schools call on provincial government to prohibit police presence in public schools VANCOUVER — The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and advocacy group Policing-Free Schools (Canada) are calling on the British Columbia government to immediately end all police-in-school programs across the province, arguing that the presence of law enforcement in educational settings creates significant risks for students, staff and marginalized communities. In a letter sent to the BC Minister of Education and Child Care and the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the organizations urged the province to prevent the reintroduction or expansion of school policing…

Civil liberties group to participate in legal dispute over land acknowledgments, EDI policies and statements on Israel The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has been granted intervener status in an ongoing legal challenge involving the University of British Columbia’s policies and public statements related to land acknowledgments, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The case, Irvine et al v University of British Columbia, centres on claims brought forward by petitioners who argue that several actions taken by the university violate British Columbia’s University Act. The petitioners contend that UBC’s use of land acknowledgments, implementation…

Premier Doug Ford pushes for renewed continental trade co-operation and stronger CUSMA agreement WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has concluded a two-day mission to Washington aimed at advancing the province’s renewed “Fortress North America” strategy, a plan focused on strengthening trade ties and economic co-operation between Canada, the United States and Mexico through an updated Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). During meetings with U.S. senators, members of Congress and business leaders from key industries including automotive, aerospace and agriculture, Ford argued that deeper continental collaboration would help create jobs, reduce costs for consumers and strengthen North American security. “Ontario…

Founding member of Rhinoceros releases blues-driven single “Put Back My Heart” alongside family-centred album project Alan Gerber, the Chicago-born and Val-David, Quebec-based singer-songwriter and founding member of the late-1960s Elektra Records supergroup Rhinoceros, has released his new single “Put Back My Heart,” the opening track from his latest album The Well, now available. The release marks another milestone in a career that has stretched across more than five decades and positioned Gerber as one of Canada’s enduring blues and roots performers. Co-written with his son Eli Gerber and jointly produced by the pair, the new single combines upbeat rhythm-and-blues energy…

Writers’ retreat returns following strong debut turnout in Scotland Ignite the Spark Retreats, a screenwriting and playwright development program founded by filmmakers and writers Robin Bradford and John Strong, will hold its second annual retreat from Oct. 8 to 14, 2026, at Weston Park, a private estate in England. The week-long program will take place at the 1,000-acre Weston Park estate in Weston-under-Lizard, located roughly 110 miles north of London. Organizers said registration for the retreat is now open through the company’s website. The event follows the inaugural retreat held in October 2025 at Scotland’s Dunskey Estate, which organizers described…

Province Launches Highway and Bridge Rehabilitation Project Along Key Northern Trade Corridor The Ontario government has begun major rehabilitation work on a section of Highway 17 near Echo Bay as part of a broader effort to improve road safety, strengthen supply chains and support economic growth across northern Ontario. The project includes resurfacing nearly 17 kilometres of Highway 17 between Echo Bay and Highway 548, along with repairs and replacements for several bridges and culverts along the corridor. Provincial officials say the upgrades will help maintain a critical stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway that supports the movement of people, goods…

City Secures More Than $171,000 Through Field of Dreams Program The City of Cambridge is set to move forward with major accessibility improvements at the Kin 1 Baseball Diamond after receiving $171,659 through the Jays Care Foundation’s 2026 Field of Dreams grant program. The funding, announced Sunday, will support upgrades designed to make the baseball facility fully accessible and inclusive for athletes, families and spectators of all abilities. City officials say the investment represents an important step in expanding access to recreation and adaptive sports programming across the region. The Kin 1 Baseball Diamond serves as a key recreational hub…

Bruce Power Unit 3 Returns to Grid Seven Months Early With $150 Million in Savings Ontario has completed what the provincial government is calling the most successful nuclear refurbishment project in its history, with Bruce Power’s Unit 3 reactor returning to service seven months ahead of schedule and under budget. The announcement, made Sunday by the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Vaughan, marks a major milestone for Ontario’s long-term energy strategy as the province prepares for rising electricity demand over the coming decades. Officials said the accelerated completion saved ratepayers approximately $150 million while reinforcing Ontario’s position as a…

More than half of former Labour supporters who switched to centre-left rivals cite Gaza stance as a key reason A new opinion poll commissioned by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FoE) suggests Labour’s position on Gaza is playing a significant role in driving progressive voters away from the party, adding to mounting political pressure on the government over its response to Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The polling, conducted by Opinium, found that 53 per cent of voters who previously backed Labour but have since moved to other…

Annual Walk for WEAAD Returns to Fredericton and Saint John The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick (FCNB) is once again marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) with its annual Walk for WEAAD, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the financial abuse and neglect experienced by older adults across the province. Now in its third consecutive year, the event will take place on June 9 in both Fredericton and Saint John. The walks are expected to bring together Commission staff, provincial government representatives, and community advocates in a public show of support for seniors and vulnerable…