Author: Sam Allcock

The City of Prince Albert says it is intensifying snow-clearing efforts after a stretch of heavy snowfall and fluctuating winter temperatures created challenging driving conditions across the community, particularly on residential streets. City officials say daytime melting followed by overnight refreezing has resulted in slush, deep ruts and uneven surfaces in several areas, making travel more difficult for motorists and pedestrians alike. Crews have been working full-time over the past week to manage snow accumulation while responding to changing weather patterns that have complicated operations. Snow removal efforts are being guided by the city’s established, priority-based snow-clearing plan, which focuses…

Ontario is set to usher in sweeping labour mobility and internal free-trade reforms on Jan. 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in how workers and businesses move across provincial borders as the province seeks to strengthen its economy amid global uncertainty. The new regulations, announced by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, introduce “As of Right” labour mobility rules that will allow certified professionals from other provinces and territories to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days, once their credentials are verified by the appropriate regulator. The measures are designed to reduce red tape, address labour…

Ontario Premier Doug Ford used his New Year’s Day message to strike an optimistic tone for 2026, highlighting recent economic initiatives and reaffirming his government’s focus on competitiveness, infrastructure investment and affordability amid ongoing global uncertainty. In a statement released Wednesday by the Premier’s Office, Ford acknowledged that the past year posed significant challenges for Ontario and Canada, particularly in the face of trade tensions and broader economic pressures. He framed those challenges as a catalyst for action, pointing to efforts aimed at strengthening the province’s economic resilience and reducing reliance on external markets. “Happy New Year, Ontario!” Ford said…

Canada’s Abigail Strate has opened the 2026 calendar year with a landmark achievement, capturing her first career World Cup ski jumping victory and reinforcing her status as one of the country’s leading winter sport athletes ahead of the Milan–Cortina Olympic Games. The 24-year-old Calgarian topped the podium on the women’s large hill in Oberstdorf, Germany, finishing with 268.2 points to secure gold against an elite international field. The result marks a significant breakthrough in Strate’s career and underscores her steady rise within a sport where consistency, technical precision, and mental resilience are critical to success. “This has been my dream…

With just days remaining in its 13th season, Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum is heading into its final stretch, as organizers encourage visitors to take in one of the Chicago region’s most established outdoor holiday attractions before it closes on Jan. 3. The exhibition, based in Lisle, Ill., will remain open nightly through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last admission at 8:30 p.m. The schedule includes both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, positioning the event as a seasonal option for families and visitors seeking an outdoor experience during the holiday period. Illumination features…

Residents of Prince Albert will once again be able to ring in the New Year without paying a fare, as the city offers free public transit service on the evening of Dec. 31 through the early hours of Jan. 1. City officials say the initiative is designed to encourage safe travel, reduce barriers to participation in community celebrations, and provide reliable transportation options during one of the busiest nights of the year. Free transit will be available starting at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2025, and will continue until 3:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2026. The fare-free service…

Mission Memorial Hospital will temporarily scale back the operating hours of its Emergency Department starting next week, a move health officials say is necessary to ensure patient safety and service reliability amid ongoing staffing challenges affecting hospitals across Canada. Beginning Monday, Dec. 29, the Emergency Department at the Mission facility will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The adjusted schedule is expected to remain in place until Tuesday, Jan. 6, with full 24/7 emergency coverage anticipated to resume at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, according to Fraser Health. Health authority officials emphasized that the change is…

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford used his Christmas Day message to extend holiday greetings to residents across the province, emphasizing family, faith and appreciation for essential workers as communities marked the holiday amid ongoing economic and social pressures. In a statement released Wednesday by the Premier’s Office, Ford reflected on the meaning of Christmas for Ontarians of different backgrounds while underscoring the role of frontline workers who continue to provide critical services throughout the holiday season. The message, dated Dec. 25, aligns with a long-standing tradition of seasonal statements from provincial leaders, offering both personal well-wishes and broader reflections…

A Vancouver-based citizens group is using a holiday-themed protest to call out what it describes as weak climate policy by Canada’s federal and British Columbia governments, urging residents to send symbolic “lumps of coal” to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby. The campaign, launched by environmental advocacy organization My Sea to Sky, features festive postcards depicting the two leaders as “naughty” politicians waking up on Christmas morning to find coal in their stockings. According to the group, nearly 500 postcards have already been mailed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the B.C. premier’s office as of late December.…

Energy ministers from around the world are set to gather in Paris on Feb. 18 and 19, 2026, for the International Energy Agency’s biennial Ministerial Meeting, a high-level forum focused on the evolving state of global energy markets and the policy choices shaping energy security, affordability and sustainability. The meeting comes at a time of heightened uncertainty in global energy systems, as governments balance the need for reliable and affordable supply with accelerating clean energy transitions and geopolitical pressures. The Paris discussions will provide an opportunity for ministers to assess recent developments in energy markets and review how policy responses…