Author: Sam Allcock

TORONTO — Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner has announced that a public inquest will be held into the death of 27-year-old Kevin Mamakwa, who died while in custody at the Thunder Bay Jail in 2020. The announcement was made Friday by Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner for the North Region, Thunder Bay Office. “Dr. Kevin Miller, Regional Supervising Coroner, North Region, Thunder Bay Office, has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Kevin Mamakwa,” the Ministry of the Solicitor General said in its statement. Background of the Case Mr. Mamakwa died on June 2,…

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. —The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has announced the official opening of a permanent, fully accessible washroom facility at Hagel Park, a significant addition to one of Area D’s most popular recreational spaces. The SRD said the new facility responds to community demand and reflects both the park’s growing popularity and the district’s broader efforts to expand public amenities. “Hagel Park has developed into Area D’s most popular public park for recreation and leisure, providing a relaxing rural park environment that is a well-loved destination for residents and visitors alike,” the regional government stated in its announcement. Meeting…

TORONTO —  The inquest into the death of 35-year-old Mark Paul Joseph Beskorowany, which was scheduled to begin next week, has been postponed, according to a brief announcement released Friday by Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General. The inquest had been set to open on September 15, 2025, but the presiding officer has ordered the proceedings delayed. The Ministry did not provide a reason for the postponement, stating only that “further information will follow when it becomes available.” The move leaves unanswered questions for both the family of the deceased and the broader community. Inquests, which are public hearings conducted…

Cambridge, ON — The City of Cambridge will celebrate the grand reopening of the newly renovated Preston Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, September 27, inviting the public to see firsthand the revitalized facility that city officials say will serve as a new hub of community activity. The all-day celebration will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours, family-friendly programming, and the home opener for the Cambridge Rivulettes hockey team. The event is free to attend, with festivities scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Landmark Reimagined Preston Memorial Auditorium, a fixture of Cambridge’s sporting and cultural landscape, has undergone a significant two-year renovation…

Winnipeg, MB — The University of Winnipeg will host the 57th Algonquian Conference this fall, bringing together scholars, students, cultural workers, and community members from across North America to share research and celebrate the diversity of Algonquian languages and cultures. Scheduled for October 17–19, the event is expected to draw up to 200 participants from Canada, the United States, and beyond. Organizers say the gathering will feature both in-person and online presentations, along with workshops, roundtables, panels, and a special cabaret-style evening showcasing Indigenous performance and language. A Gathering of Shared Knowledge The Algonquian Conference has long served as an international…

Temiskaming Shores, ON — Ontario is moving to solidify its position as a global leader in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain with a $100 million investment from Electra Battery Materials to build North America’s first battery-grade cobalt refinery in Temiskaming Shores. The new facility, backed by $17.5 million from the province’s Invest Ontario Fund, represents a significant step in Canada’s push to expand domestic critical mineral processing capacity and reduce reliance on offshore supply. Strengthening Supply Chains Amid Tariffs The project comes at a time when the province is grappling with U.S. tariffs and broader economic uncertainty. Officials say the…

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. — Work is officially underway on a major project aimed at easing healthcare access and addressing workforce shortages in northern Vancouver Island, as community leaders gathered this week to break ground on the Just Like Home Lodge and Healthcare Workforce Housing initiative. On September 10, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), together with the Campbell River Hospital Foundation and Seymour Pacific Homes, marked the start of construction with a ceremony held on the traditional unceded territory of the Ligʷiłdax̌ʷ people. The milestone event opened with a ground blessing led by Shawn Decaire, hereditary chief of the We Wai…

Despite a recent spate of project delays and cancellations, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says low-emissions hydrogen production remains on track for significant growth through 2030—though momentum has slowed from the surge of announcements seen earlier in the decade. The findings were published Friday in the IEA’s 2025 edition of the Global Hydrogen Review, the agency’s annual analysis of developments across the sector. The report offers a detailed snapshot of how hydrogen markets are evolving, with a particular emphasis on emerging low-emissions technologies. Demand Rises, but Supply Still Fossil-Based Worldwide demand for hydrogen reached nearly 100 million tonnes in 2024,…

Mactier, Ont. — The Ontario government is committing $3.2 million to two major community projects aimed at expanding access to sport and recreation, including the construction of Canada’s first purpose-built goalball court. The funding, part of the province’s $200 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), will also support upgrades to the Métis Nation of Ontario’s Children and Youth Camp in Burk’s Falls. The investment, announced Thursday by the Ministry of Sport, is intended to boost local economies, protect jobs and promote healthy, active living. Officials emphasized the projects’ significance not only for infrastructure but also for inclusion and…

Toronto —  The Office of the Chief Coroner has confirmed that an inquest will be held into the 2020 death of Matthew Rice, a 29-year-old man who died in hospital following an encounter with Ontario Provincial Police officers. The announcement was made Thursday by Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region, Central West Office. Under Ontario’s Coroners Act, an inquest is mandatory in cases involving deaths that occur in police custody or during police interactions. The upcoming proceedings will examine the events leading to Rice’s death and consider whether systemic changes could prevent similar tragedies in the…