Author: Sam Allcock

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — October 15, 2025. Under the patronage of The Private Office of Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum, the 6th Edition of the Middle East Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2025 concluded in Dubai this week, celebrating the region’s most accomplished women in business, innovation, and leadership. The two-day conference, held under the theme “Aspire, Inspire, Lead,” brought together a distinguished assembly of speakers, executives, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. The event served as both a forum for dialogue on women’s empowerment and a platform to recognize exceptional achievements across multiple sectors. Organized as a flagship regional initiative, the summit…

TORONTO — Ontario is halfway to its first major milestone in ensuring every resident has access to primary care, following a significant reduction in the provincial Health Care Connect (HCC) waitlist. The update marks tangible progress under the province’s $2.1-billion Primary Care Action Plan, part of a broader effort to modernize and expand access to front-line health services. The Ministry of Health confirmed this week that the number of Ontarians waiting to be matched with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team has been cut by 50 per cent since January 1, 2025. The government’s goal is to…

PENTICTON, B.C. — The stage may be haunted, but in Penticton, it’s very much alive. A new production titled Theatre is Dead is set to blur the boundaries between life and afterlife — and between performance and presence — in what its creator calls both a celebration and a séance. Conceived and directed by Kate Twa, artistic director of Tempest Theatre, the immersive event pairs live performance with wine tasting, creating what Twa describes as a toast “to all that theatre has been and all it still is.” Over the course of each performance, guests will move through Tempest’s intimate…

DUBLIN — A long-forgotten literary manuscript from Ireland’s revolutionary era has emerged from obscurity, offering a vivid glimpse into a nation divided by war and the human stories that shaped its struggle for independence. The Tragic Isle by N.P. Kennedy, a novel set during the Irish War of Independence and its turbulent aftermath, has been published for the first time after lying undiscovered for decades. Described as “a story of love and conflict, loyalty and compromise set during the rebel resistance at the height of Ireland’s War of Independence (1919–1922), the post-treaty civil war and the final declaration of peace,”…

PARIS — The world’s renewable energy capacity is on track to more than double by the end of the decade, despite lingering challenges across supply chains and electricity systems, according to a new forecast released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The agency’s Renewables 2025 report projects an increase of 4,600 gigawatts (GW) in global renewable power capacity by 2030—equivalent to the combined electricity generation capacity of China, the European Union, and Japan. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to drive roughly 80 per cent of that growth, followed by wind, hydro, bioenergy, and geothermal. The report highlights strong momentum…

Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has confirmed that an inquest will be held later this month into the death of Justin Alexander Trudeau, a 44-year-old man from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory who died while in custody at the Sudbury Jail in 2021. The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 20, 2025, and is expected to run for eight days, according to an announcement from Dr. Harry Voogjarv, Regional Supervising Coroner for the North Region, Sudbury Office. The inquiry will hear testimony from approximately 14 witnesses and will be conducted virtually via video conference. “Dr. Harry Voogjarv, Regional…

Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has announced that a public inquest will be held into the death of 31-year-old Raymond Alliman, who died following an interaction with Ottawa police in 2017. The inquest, mandated under Ontario’s Coroners Act, was confirmed this week by Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, Regional Supervising Coroner for the East Region, Ottawa Office. It will review the events leading to Alliman’s death and consider recommendations to help prevent similar incidents in the future. “Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filion, Regional Supervising Coroner, East Region, Ottawa Office, has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Raymond Alliman,”…

Ontario’s government says it has reached a major step forward in planning new energy infrastructure for the fast-growing communities of the Greater Toronto Area’s northwest. The province is proposing to release nearly 40 per cent of the land originally reserved for the Northwest GTA Transmission Corridor, citing updated studies showing a narrower corridor will meet future electricity needs. The move comes as part of the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ ongoing Northwest GTA Transmission Corridor Identification Study, which began in 2019. The refined plan will see the corridor aligned alongside the proposed Highway 413, reducing the amount of protected land…

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Prince Albert City Council will debate a major zoning amendment this month that could reshape residential development across the city. The proposed change would allow up to four housing units on any residential lot “as of right,” without the need for public hearings or Council approval, provided projects comply with existing zoning and building regulations. The zoning amendment, to be presented to Council on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, is a key requirement for the city to qualify for significant federal funding through the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). The City of Prince Albert is preparing to…

HAMILTON, Ont. — Acclaimed Canadian blues and soul artist Harrison Kennedy is being honoured with one of the region’s highest musical distinctions. The Escarpment Blues Society (EBS) has announced that Kennedy will be inducted into its Hall of Fame at a special gala performance on November 25, 2025, at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre. The event, presented by the Escarpment Blues Society, will celebrate Kennedy’s exceptional career and lasting impact on Canada’s music landscape. The evening promises live performances, personal tributes, and a heartfelt recognition of a Hamilton-born artist whose music has reached audiences around the world. Honouring a Canadian…