Author: Sam Allcock

KINGSTON, Ont. — Ontario is investing $242 million to upgrade classrooms, labs and training equipment at publicly funded colleges and universities, a move the province says will help students build job-ready skills and strengthen the workforce pipeline during a period of economic uncertainty. The funding, announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, is aimed at renewing aging infrastructure and expanding access to modern learning tools across the postsecondary sector. The province said the investment will support maintenance and repairs, as well as the purchase of updated instructional equipment needed in high-demand fields. “In the face…

TIMMINS, Ont. — The Ontario government says it is accelerating the approval process for Canada Nickel Company’s Crawford Nickel Project near Timmins, positioning the development as a cornerstone of a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain and a major economic driver for Northern Ontario. The province announced Tuesday that Crawford is the second project to advance under its recently launched “One Project, One Process” (1P1P) framework, a permitting model introduced in October to streamline approvals and coordinate government oversight. The government estimates the Crawford development could attract $5 billion in investment and support thousands of jobs across construction, operations and related…

Canadian country music star Dallas Smith is heading to the big screen this winter, with SOUL’S ROAD slated to open in theatres across Canada on Feb. 6, 2026, following an extensive national tour designed to build momentum for the release. The film, shot in Edmonton, is positioned as a large-scale, emotionally driven drama centred on connection, personal accountability and second chances. It also marks a milestone for Smith, who takes on his first leading role in a feature film after establishing himself as one of Canada’s best-known country artists. “Following an extensive cross-country film tour, Soul’s Road, starring Dallas Smith,…

Ontario’s newly passed pay transparency legislation — requiring employers to include salary ranges in job postings — is set to reshape recruiting practices across the province, as companies navigate a cooling labour market and candidates face tougher odds in increasingly automated hiring processes. The new rules mark a significant shift in how employers position open roles and how jobseekers assess opportunities, according to recruiting firm Hays, which says the legislation is arriving at a moment when many organizations are already slowing hiring activity despite continued outward signs of demand. Drawing on frontline recruiting experience and insights from the Hays 2026…

Europe’s weather satellite agency has approved a major new space-based observation programme that is expected to significantly improve weather forecasting accuracy while delivering substantial long-term economic benefits, a development with implications for global forecasting systems and climate resilience planning. The EUMETSAT Council has formally given the green light to the EUMETSAT Polar System – Sterna (EPS-Sterna), a constellation of polar-orbiting microsatellites designed to deliver microwave measurements of atmospheric temperature, humidity and cloud structure at an unprecedented frequency. The system is scheduled to deploy its first satellites in 2029 and operate through to 2042. The approval follows votes taken during the…

European Green Party leaders are warning that the long-awaited EU-Mercosur trade agreement, endorsed by European Union member states after a quarter-century of negotiations, risks undermining European farmers, accelerating environmental damage and weakening the EU’s climate commitments at a time of heightened global economic uncertainty. The endorsement comes against a backdrop of growing geopolitical instability, renewed trade tensions driven by U.S. tariffs under former president Donald Trump, and increasing pressure on Europe to diversify its international economic relationships. Supporters of the agreement argue that deeper ties with South America’s Mercosur bloc — which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — are…

Sheila Early, a pioneering figure in Canadian forensic nursing, has been appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of her transformative contributions to health care, education and the justice system, marking a milestone for a profession she helped create and legitimise nationwide. The Order of Canada, presented by the Governor General, is regarded as the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System and recognises outstanding achievement, dedication to community service and contributions to the nation. Early’s appointment reflects more than three decades of work supporting survivors of violence while reshaping how forensic health care is delivered and understood across Canada.…

The City of Prince Albert is warning residents and motorists that a stretch of warmer weather expected through the weekend and into early next week is likely to worsen local road conditions, adding fresh operational pressures for municipal crews and increasing safety risks for drivers. City officials say the forecasted temperature fluctuations above and below freezing will intensify the annual thaw-freeze cycle, a phenomenon that can quickly degrade winter road surfaces. As snow melts during warmer periods and refreezes overnight, ruts, icy patches and reduced traction can develop with little warning, particularly on heavily travelled routes. In response, the City…

Quantic Dream has reached a significant commercial and creative milestone as Detroit: Become Human™ has surpassed 15 million copies sold worldwide across PlayStation®4 and PC platforms, reinforcing the long-term global impact of one of the most influential narrative-driven games of the past decade. The sales benchmark, announced from Paris on January 8, 2026, underscores the enduring appeal of the title more than seven years after its original launch in May 2018. Developed by the Paris-based studio, Detroit: Become Human has become a defining release in Quantic Dream’s portfolio, helping to shape broader industry expectations around interactive storytelling and player-driven narratives.…

Prime Video is expanding its 2026 film slate with the global debut of The Wrecking Crew, a high-profile action comedy starring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. The film will be available worldwide on the streaming platform beginning January 28, 2026, positioning it as a marquee early-year release for the service. Set against the backdrop of Hawaii, The Wrecking Crew centres on two estranged half-brothers forced back into each other’s lives following their father’s mysterious death. Jonny and James, portrayed by Momoa and Bautista respectively, reunite reluctantly to uncover the truth behind the circumstances surrounding the loss. As their investigation unfolds,…