TORONTO — Olivia and Noah have once again claimed the top spots as Ontario’s most popular baby names, extending a streak that reflects parents’ continued preference for familiar and enduring choices. New data released by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement shows the two names leading provincial rankings for 2024, reinforcing trends that have remained remarkably consistent over the past decade. Olivia secured its place as the most popular name for baby girls in Ontario for the 16th consecutive year, while Noah ranked first among boys’ names for the sixth year in a row. The annual…
Author: Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock
Sam Allcock is a business correspondent for Wire Service Canada, reporting on corporate developments, market trends, and economic news with clarity and accuracy. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he has covered stories ranging from financial results and trade agreements to emerging innovations, offering readers both local insight and global context. Known for his balanced and engaging reporting style, Sam is committed to delivering reliable, relevant, and timely business news that helps audiences make informed decisions.
Hitachi Energy is investing $30 million to upgrade and expand newly acquired facilities in Stoney Creek and Cambridge, a move the Ontario government says will help reinforce the province’s energy supply chain and support long-term economic growth as electricity demand rises. The investment will sustain 155 existing jobs and create 30 new positions, bringing total employment supported by the project to 185. Provincial officials say the expansion aligns with Ontario’s broader push to modernize and expand electricity generation, transmission, and servicing capacity as population growth, electrification, and industrial investment place increasing strain on the grid . Speaking at an announcement…
The Ontario government is investing an additional $4 million to help municipalities protect residents and businesses from the risks associated with old and inactive oil and gas wells, expanding efforts to improve emergency preparedness across southwestern Ontario. Announced December 16 by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the new funding will support nine municipalities as part of Ontario’s $23.6 million Legacy Oil and Gas Wells Action Plan. The initiative is aimed at strengthening local emergency response capacity, enhancing public safety and reducing the risks posed by legacy wells that remain scattered across private lands in the region. “Today’s announcement is yet…
Cambridge, Ont. — The City of Cambridge has received a $10,000 sponsorship from GrandBridge Energy to support the purchase of fitness equipment for the new Cambridge Recreation Complex, a major municipal project slated to open in late 2026. The contribution was formally presented to city council on Monday evening and will be directed toward outfitting the complex’s fitness area with modern equipment designed to serve residents of all ages and abilities. City officials say the sponsorship will help ensure the facility opens with accessible, community-focused amenities that align with long-term health and wellness goals. The Cambridge Recreation Complex represents one…
Patrick Gately’s latest poetry collection, An Angel’s Sunrise, enters the market with a reflective examination of life’s deeper motivations, offering readers a contemplative counterpoint to the material priorities that often dominate modern society. Published this month by Irish-based imprint The Manuscript Publisher, the book continues Gately’s exploration of time, meaning and personal growth, themes that have shaped his recent literary output. At its core, An Angel’s Sunrise considers the idea that human lives are shaped not only by visible choices and circumstances, but also by unseen influences that guide people through moments of challenge and change. Gately frames the collection…
Kitchener City Council approved a range of housing, sustainability and governance initiatives at its December 15, 2025 meeting, marking a significant step in the municipality’s efforts to address affordability pressures, modernize operations and strengthen community engagement. The most consequential decision was council’s approval of the Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP), a new incentive framework designed to expand housing supply and improve affordability across the city. Supported by $6.21 million in federal funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund, the CIP introduces two grant programs aimed at encouraging the development of diverse and affordable housing forms. The Additional…
The Ontario government is awarding the City of Guelph more than $3.6 million through the second round of its Building Faster Fund, citing the municipality’s progress in accelerating home construction amid ongoing housing supply pressures across the province. The funding announcement, made Monday by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, provides Guelph with $3,692,960 after the city exceeded 80 per cent of its provincially assigned housing target for 2024. Guelph broke ground on 1,279 new homes last year, reaching more than 85 per cent of its annual target and qualifying for the incentive-based funding program. Provincial officials say the…
The Ontario government has unveiled a multibillion-dollar plan to significantly expand tourism, entertainment and transportation infrastructure in the Niagara region, positioning it as a world-renowned, four-season destination and a larger driver of provincial economic growth. Announced Monday in Niagara Falls, the Destination Niagara Strategy is designed to attract 25 million visitors annually and double the region’s tourism impact, generating an additional $3 billion in gross domestic product for Ontario each year. The province says the strategy will support local businesses, create good-paying jobs and help protect Ontario’s economy at a time of broader global uncertainty. “Niagara is home to the…
Ontario is moving to deepen internal free trade by advancing a regulatory framework that would allow goods and services approved in other Canadian jurisdictions to be sold and delivered in the province without additional regulatory hurdles, a step the government says could reduce costs and strengthen economic resilience amid global uncertainty. The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade confirmed Monday that it has published a draft regulation under the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025 (OFTMA), enabling mutual recognition of goods and services from other provinces and territories that adopt reciprocal measures. The proposal is intended to…
The International Energy Agency (IEA) will release its latest annual assessment of global coal markets later this month, providing a detailed outlook on demand, supply, trade and pricing trends through the end of the decade. Ahead of the public launch, the agency is offering reporters an opportunity to review the findings under embargo through a dedicated press webinar. The Coal 2025 annual market report is scheduled for publication on Wednesday, 17 December. An under-embargo press webinar will take place the previous day, Tuesday, 16 December, at 15:00 Paris time, the IEA said in a notice to media. The briefing will…