Author: Sam Allcock

Toronto, ON — Massey Hall has unveiled the lineup for the 11th Annual Dream Serenade, a benefit concert that has become one of Toronto’s most anticipated cultural events. This year’s edition, set for October 25 on the historic Allan Slaight Stage, will bring together some of the country’s most celebrated artists in support of children with developmental and physical disabilities and their families. The 2025 lineup features acclaimed singer-songwriter Feist, rock favourites The Sheepdogs, The National’s Matt Berninger, Barenaked Ladies, American musician Josh Rouse, Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, and event co-founder Hayden. Organizers promise additional special guests and collaborations…

Toronto, ON — Ontario is making a major bet on the power of culture to drive tourism, announcing a $635,000 investment in the launch of the first-ever Promise of Music Festival, a global event exploring the social impact of music and hosted in partnership with The Glenn Gould Foundation. The province’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming said the funding is part of its strategy to position Ontario as a world-class destination for arts and culture while stimulating visitor spending and economic growth. The festival, running October 6–10 across the Greater Toronto Area, is expected to draw more than 50,000…

PARIS — October 2, 2025 — The International Energy Agency (IEA) will release its flagship Renewables 2025 market report next week, offering governments, investors, and industry leaders fresh insight into the outlook for renewable energy technologies through the end of the decade. The launch will take place on Tuesday, October 7 at 11:00 a.m. Paris time during a press webinar hosted by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and Heymi Bahar, Senior Energy Analyst and the report’s lead author. The session will be open to journalists and livestreamed for wider audiences. A Key Annual Report Renewables 2025 is the agency’s primary…

HAMILTON —  Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has set a date for the mandatory inquest into the death of Sean White, a 32-year-old man who died while in custody at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre in 2021. Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Hamilton Office, confirmed Thursday that proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025. The inquest will be presided over by Murray Segal, with Roger Shallow serving as inquest counsel. Circumstances of the Case Mr. White died on August 12, 2021, while incarcerated at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, a provincial facility…

TORONTO — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has announced a mandatory inquest into the death of Robert Twiss, a 47-year-old man who died while in custody at the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene in 2018. Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region, Central West Office, confirmed the proceeding this week. “An inquest will be held into the death of Robert Twiss,” Dr. Peckham said in a statement released by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. Circumstances of the Case Mr. Twiss died on December 3, 2018, while serving time at the Central North Correctional Centre,…

TORONTO — Ontario is increasing funding to ensure more people in First Nations and rural communities can access free, reliable internet through their local libraries, part of a broader effort to close the province’s digital divide. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming announced $660,000 in funding under the Internet Connectivity Grant program, including a $78,000 increase this year. The expansion will allow 30 additional public libraries to join, ensuring all First Nation public libraries and four more rural libraries receive full reimbursement for internet costs. Officials say the move secures dependable digital access in communities where service is often…

TORONTO — October 2, 2025 — Ontario has released draft criteria for the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), a move the government says will streamline approvals for major projects, bolster competitiveness, and strengthen the province’s economic resilience. The draft regulation, posted today by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, sets the framework for how zones will be designated and is being circulated for consultations with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders. Officials say the plan will evolve based on the feedback received in coming months. “In the face of global economic uncertainty, our government has a mandate…

TORONTO —  Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued a statement to commemorate Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, emphasizing themes of reflection, renewal, and solidarity with the province’s Jewish community. “As the sun sets this evening, Jewish communities in Ontario and around the world will observe the start of Yom Kippur — an opportunity to pause, reflect and seek renewal,” Ford said in the statement released by the Premier’s Office. “On this sacred day, those observing will look inward, search for ways to grow and deepen their commitment to one another and to their faith.” A Day…

NELSON, B.C. — A Nelson-based real estate professional has launched an initiative designed to connect property buyers and sellers with vetted agents around the world while directing financial support to charitable causes. Alison Watt, a long-time realtor in Nelson, B.C., has unveiled The Watt Project, a platform that pledges to donate half of all referral fees earned through property transactions to charities and non-profit organizations chosen by clients. The program is built around a simple idea: when buyers or sellers engage with The Watt Project, they are matched with a top-tier real estate professional in their local market. After the…

CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO — Residents of Cambridge are being invited to celebrate one of the region’s most anticipated fall traditions with the return of the annual Oktoberfest Lunch at City Hall. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Civic Square, will feature free food, live Bavarian music, and a ceremonial keg tapping, all in keeping with the festivities that have made the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest one of the largest Bavarian festivals outside of Germany. Organizers are encouraging residents to “bring your oom-pah and appetite” and join Mayor Jan Liggett, members of Cambridge City Council, and…