Author: Sam Allcock

BELLEVILLE, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Belleville more than $801,000 through the second round of its Building Faster Fund, recognizing the municipality’s progress in meeting provincial housing targets and supporting infrastructure development. The $801,040 allocation comes as part of a provincial initiative rewarding communities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing goals. Belleville exceeded that benchmark in 2024, breaking ground on 250 new homes—97 per cent of its assigned target. Officials say the funding will be used to expand essential community infrastructure and sustain momentum in housing construction, aligning with Ontario’s…

KITCHENER, ONTARIO — Ontario’s ambitious plans to expand regional rail connectivity took a major step forward this week, as the provincial government reached an Agreement-in-Principle with CN Rail to purchase land for the construction of dedicated GO Transit tracks along the Kitchener Line. The move marks a key milestone in the government’s long-term strategy to deliver faster, two-way, all-day train service between Kitchener and Toronto. Coinciding with the announcement, officials also confirmed new weekend and weekday GO Train services will launch in November, including the first-ever weekend trips to Kitchener. Expanding Ontario’s Transit Network “Today, we’re taking two pivotal steps…

TORONTO — Ontario is taking another step toward strengthening its workforce and reducing red tape by making it easier for licensed professionals from across Canada to work in the province. The provincial government announced plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at supporting worker mobility and addressing labour shortages—particularly in health care—by expanding “as of right” provisions and accelerating credential recognition for doctors and nurses from other provinces and territories. The move is part of the province’s broader plan to “protect Ontario” by fostering a more competitive and resilient economy. The proposed legislation would mark a first-in-Canada approach to interprovincial…

TORONTO — Toronto’s rising hip-hop duo Kid DET and Sad Classes are gaining national attention with their latest single, “Rearview”, a melodic and emotionally charged track that has already surpassed 125,000 views across streaming platforms. The song marks the first release from their upcoming project Soul Food II: At The Cabin, set to debut October 17, 2025, and represents a pivotal creative moment for two artists helping to redefine the sound and story of Canadian hip-hop. Blending introspection, soulful production, and cinematic atmosphere, “Rearview” delivers what the pair describe as a meditation on growth, resilience, and the act of looking back…

WINDSOR, Ont. — Ontario is investing more than $64 million over the next three years to expand in-class apprenticeship training across the province, part of a broader push to strengthen the skilled trades workforce and prepare thousands of workers for in-demand jobs tied to Ontario’s infrastructure boom. The investment, announced Tuesday by David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, will fund additional classroom training through the In-Class Enhancement Fund (IEF) — creating up to 4,000 new training seats each year and supporting up to 12,000 apprentices. The program also covers classroom fees of $10 per day for Level…

KENORA, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing $50 million to support planning for a new Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora, a project that officials say will deliver modern, high-quality health care for Northwestern Ontario residents. The province is also committing $1.9 million toward the redevelopment and expansion of the Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care long-term care home, located on the same campus, creating an integrated “campus of care” for patients and seniors. The announcements are part of Ontario’s ongoing plan to expand health-care infrastructure across the province. “Our government is investing more than $60 billion to build…

PORTLAND, Ore.Two environmental advocacy organizations have issued a formal notice of intent to sue a subsidiary of Pacific Seafood, one of North America’s largest seafood and aquaculture corporations, over what they describe as years of illegal pollution flowing into the Columbia River. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC) allege that Pacific Bio Products – Warrenton, a Pacific Seafood-owned processing facility in Warrenton, Oregon, has repeatedly violated its wastewater discharge permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The groups say the violations have occurred over a three-year period and involve extreme…

Winnipeg’s celebrated roots-rock duo, The Bros. Landreth, will headline Toronto’s TD Music Hall on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in a performance presented by Massey Hall. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 17 at 11 a.m. ET through tdmusichall.com and by phone at 416-872-4255. The announcement marks a return to Toronto for the two-time JUNO Award-winning band, known for their richly layered musicianship and “blood harmony” vocals that have helped define their signature blend of soulful Americana and blues-inflected rock. Formed by brothers Dave and Joey Landreth, The Bros. Landreth have steadily built a reputation as one of Canada’s most accomplished…

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale will soon have the chance to step directly into the world of Gilead, as the City of Cambridge unveils Under His Eye: The Gilead Experience — a new walking tour and series of exclusive exhibits celebrating the city’s starring role in the acclaimed television series. Running from October 22 to November 6, the self-guided tour offers visitors a chance to explore the filming sites that helped bring Margaret Atwood’s dystopian vision to life on screen. From the historic architecture of Queen’s Square to the scenic banks of the Grand River, the initiative…

TORONTO — Beloved Canadian singer-songwriter and philanthropist Andy Kim will return to Toronto’s Massey Hall this December for the annual Andy Kim Christmas, an all-star holiday concert that blends music, community, and generosity. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with proceeds supporting CAMH’s Gifts of Light program. Tickets for the event go on sale October 17 at 10 a.m. local time through ticketmaster.ca, with the full artist lineup to be announced in the coming weeks. The long-running concert, which has become a fixture of Canada’s holiday entertainment calendar, showcases performances by some of the country’s…