Author: Sam Allcock

VANCOUVER — Vancouver’s Hyperspace Metal Festival, one of Canada’s best-known niche heavy music events, has announced the full lineup for its 2026 edition, marking what organizers say could be the festival’s final outing for the foreseeable future. The three-day event, branded as Hyperspace Metal Festival VII, will take place April 16 and 17 at The Cobalt, followed by a closing night on April 18 at the Rickshaw Theatre. The 2026 lineup features a mix of Canadian and international acts spanning melodic death metal, power metal, progressive metal and symphonic metal, including Sanctuary, Edge of Paradise, Atavistia, Voidchaser, Owlbear, and Artificial…

A dispute between an environmental advocacy group and Health Canada’s pesticide regulator over the disclosure of information linked to falsified safety studies has stretched on for more than 18 months, fuelling concerns about transparency, regulatory credibility and public trust in federal science-based decision-making. The issue centres on the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), the branch of Health Canada responsible for determining whether pesticides are safe for use in Canada. According to John Bennett, senior policy advisor with Friends of the Earth Canada, the controversy began with what he describes as an “obscure announcement” quietly posted on the agency’s website in…

Ontario has formally opened applications for commercial-scale geologic carbon storage projects, marking a significant step in the province’s strategy to reduce industrial emissions while attracting new investment and supporting job creation. Beginning Monday, developers can submit proposals under a newly established regulatory framework designed to enable the safe, long-term underground storage of carbon dioxide. The province estimates the initiative could help energy-intensive industries cut greenhouse gas emissions by five to seven million tonnes annually, create more than 4,000 jobs and reduce costs for Ontario businesses by nearly $1 billion. The move is part of the government’s broader economic and environmental…

Ontario has completed the refurbishment of the fourth and final reactor at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station months ahead of schedule and under budget, marking a major milestone for the province’s energy system and industrial base. Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce announced on Monday that construction work on Darlington Unit 4 is finished, clearing the way for the reactor to return to service four months earlier than planned. The broader refurbishment program, which involved all four units at the site, was delivered $150 million under budget, according to the province. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has approved the unit…

KITCHENER, Ont. — The City of Kitchener is marking the start of Black History Month with a message from Mayor Berry Vrbanovic that highlights the historical and ongoing contributions of Black Canadians, while urging residents, institutions and leaders to confront systemic barriers and recommit to equity and inclusion. In a statement issued Feb. 1 on behalf of Kitchener council, the mayor described Black History Month as both a celebration and a moment of reflection, aligning the city with national commemorations taking place across Canada throughout February. “February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month – a time to honour…

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford marked the start of Black History Month on Monday with a statement highlighting the longstanding contributions of Black communities to the province and outlining new and ongoing government efforts aimed at education, economic opportunity and inclusion. In a statement issued by the Premier’s Office, Ford framed Black History Month as both a time for reflection and a call to action, emphasizing the role Black Ontarians have played across multiple sectors and the importance of addressing systemic barriers that persist today. “Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the many ways Ontario’s Black…

The Ontario government has awarded a $174-million construction contract to Pomerleau Inc. to begin Phase One of the long-planned redevelopment of Stevenson Memorial Hospital, a project aimed at expanding capacity and modernizing care for patients in New Tecumseth and surrounding communities. The contract award, announced Jan. 30 by the Ministry of Health, marks a significant milestone for the hospital expansion and reflects the province’s broader push to strengthen health-care infrastructure. The redevelopment is part of Ontario’s plan to invest nearly $60 billion in more than 50 major hospital projects over the next decade, an initiative intended to add capacity and…

The Ontario government is committing more than $235,000 in new funding to university-led research aimed at protecting the province’s natural resources, bolstering fisheries management and supporting sustainable forestry, as it continues to position environmental stewardship as a pillar of long-term economic and community resilience. Announced Thursday by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the funding will be delivered through Collaborative Research Agreements supporting seven projects at universities across the province. The investment brings Ontario’s total funding for active collaborative research projects to more than $3 million, reflecting a broader strategy to safeguard the lands, waters and wildlife that underpin multiple…

The United States has signed reciprocal trade agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala aimed at reinforcing long-standing market access for U.S. dairy exporters and preventing the introduction of new trade barriers, a move welcomed by major U.S. dairy and food industry groups this week. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) said the agreements strengthen regulatory certainty for U.S. agricultural exports, particularly dairy, in two key Central American markets. The deals are designed to build on existing trade commitments under the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement…

The Ontario government is nearing completion of more than $100 million in rail infrastructure investments aimed at supporting the return of Northlander passenger rail service to northeastern Ontario later this year, marking a major milestone in the province’s efforts to strengthen transportation links and economic growth across the north. According to the Ministry of Transportation, construction work along the Northlander corridor includes joint elimination, curve adjustments and upgrades at rail crossings designed to improve ride quality, enhance safety and reduce travel times. Once operational, the Northlander will operate along a 740-kilometre route between Toronto and Timmins, with a rail connection…