Author: Sophie Mitchell

BRANTFORD, Ont. — Ontario has opened a new and expanded emergency department at Brantford General Hospital, backed by a $28-million provincial investment aimed at increasing treatment capacity, reducing wait times and improving access to emergency care for more than 50,000 patients who use the department each year. The expanded facility, operated by Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), is more than 7,000 square feet larger than the hospital’s previous emergency department. The project forms part of Ontario’s broader plan to invest approximately $64 billion in health infrastructure over the next decade, including more than 50 major hospital projects across the province.…

Danish Singer-Songwriter to Launch New Album During Toronto Show TORONTO — Danish singer-songwriter Tina Dico will return to Toronto this fall for a rare intimate performance at the Allied Music Centre Theatre, as the acclaimed artist prepares to introduce Canadian audiences to her forthcoming album, Balancing Small Things On Sharp Edges. Presented by Massey Hall, the concert is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Allied Music Centre Theatre, located at 178 Victoria St. in downtown Toronto. The appearance comes one day after Dico’s new album is set for release in Canada on October 23. The Toronto engagement marks…

Danish progressive metal band KINETIC has released “Dyson,” the second single and music video from its upcoming debut full-length album, Liminal, as the group prepares to expand its international presence through Eclipse Records. The 11-track album is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026, and follows KINETIC’s 2025 debut EP, Sentience. Running 106 minutes, Liminal combines progressive metal, cinematic arrangements and science-inspired storytelling in a concept album examining technological development, human conflict and civilization’s potential future. The new “Dyson” video, directed by keyboardist Marcus H. Levin, explores isolation, paranoia and the shifting boundary between reality and individual perception. ‘Dyson’ Explores…

Kamloops, B.C. guitarist, singer and harmonica player Jake Soberlak is preparing to release his debut album, I’m In Trouble, on September 11, 2026, as the 17-year-old musician expands his presence in Canada’s blues scene with a series of fall performances across British Columbia. The album is being introduced with debut single “You Gotta Leave,” an original composition that draws on traditional blues recording techniques while highlighting Soberlak’s approach to a genre developed generations before he was born. The release will be followed in October by eight scheduled appearances stretching from Salt Spring Island to Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Jake…

BritBox is expanding its Ludwig franchise with a 60-minute Christmas special featuring David Mitchell, Anna Maxwell Martin and veteran detective actor Sir David Suchet, as the streaming service prepares to launch the show’s second season on October 13. The festive episode will add several high-profile guest stars to the International Emmy Award-winning detective series. The announcement comes as Ludwig moves into a broader production cycle, with Season 2 scheduled for weekly release on BritBox and a third season already in production. ‘Ludwig’ Christmas Special Heads to Yorkshire The Christmas episode shifts the action to Yorkshire, where John, Lucy and Henry…

Prime Video has unveiled its 2026-27 NHL on Prime Wednesday Night Hockey schedule, outlining 27 nationally televised regular-season games and an expanded postseason offering as the streaming platform begins a new long-term Canadian rights agreement. The schedule opens September 30 at 7 p.m. ET, when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the New York Islanders. Regular-season broadcasts will be available in both English and French exclusively on Prime Video in Canada at no additional cost to Canadian Prime members. The upcoming season marks an expansion of Prime Video’s position in Canada’s sports streaming market, with the platform becoming the exclusive long-term…

Canadian musician and broadcaster Danny Marks is celebrating 25 years of BLUZ FM, marking a quarter-century for a radio program that has provided a national platform for blues music while supporting generations of Canadian performers. The anniversary comes during a busy year for Marks. He hosted the inaugural Canadian Blues Music Awards in January, while his latest album, Back to the Blues, climbed into the Top 5 on Canada’s Big Blues Chart. The BLUZ FM milestone adds another chapter to a career spanning performance, recording and broadcasting. “It’s a positive affirmation that creativity is born out of adversity, turning coal…

Vancouver-based vintage soul, blues and roots quartet Honeybear is building on its rapid rise in Canada’s independent music scene with the release of its second album, The Cure. The 11-track record arrives September 4, followed by album release performances in Victoria and Vancouver. The new project follows the group’s 2025 debut, I Was Wrong, which helped expand Honeybear’s audience through streaming platforms, radio exposure, festivals and live appearances across Canada. The band will mark the latest release with shows at Upstairs in Victoria on September 9 and Vancouver’s Hollywood Theatre on September 10. Honeybear Builds on Momentum From Breakthrough Debut…

Maugerville, New Brunswick roots rock band Engage is gaining wider recognition on the independent music circuit after its latest single, “Unbattered,” earned Bronze for Band Single of the Year at the International Singer Songwriters Association Awards. The award comes as Engage prepares to release its upcoming album, The Master Plan, and follows a strong awards season showing that includes five nominations at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards and six nominations at the ISSA Awards. Together, the honours represent a significant milestone for the New Brunswick group, which has steadily expanded its catalogue and industry profile since forming in 2020.…

Canadian Inuk singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark is preparing to release a new single while expanding her live schedule across Ontario and British Columbia, marking another milestone in a career spanning more than three decades. Aglukark, an Officer of the Order of Canada, will release “For You,” known in Inuktitut as “Igvit” (ᐃᒡᕕᑦ), on September 8. The track will serve as the lead single from her forthcoming EP, Disco Ball, and is accompanied by a series of Canadian performances extending through December 2026. The new recording brings together Indigenous artists and collaborators from several communities while also supporting organizations focused on Indigenous…