A “shocking” amount of marine life is being ensnared in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear adrift in Canada’s oceans, internal federal data reveals. Nearly 86,000 marine animals were caught up in “ghost gear” between 2020 and 2023, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) data obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an access to […]

Stouffville will explore the potential installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras through a partnership with York Regional Police (YRP). The proposal was included in a recent letter sent to Mayor Iain Lovatt by YRP Deputy Chief Paulo Da Silva, as well as a presentation delivered to Council by Inspector Brad Weick, both urging the Town […]

If you missed Springwater Township’s first council meeting of the new year on Wednesday night, you missed a beauty. The season debut of what some locals have dubbed the ‘The Jerry Springwater Show’ had everything a premiere needs to draw a huge audience — drama, conflict, intrigue, suspense and some good old-fashioned name-calling. For good […]

RCMP have identified a new wave of phone scams targeting older residents and warn Pincher Creek seniors to stay vigilant. Fraudsters are posing as grandchildren in need of urgent financial help, using technology to mimic voices and create a sense of emergency. Const. Rachel Welsh of the Pincher Creek detachment explains the alarming nature of […]

Fire Board Trustees of the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID) say they are doing their best with the ongoing investigation into a privacy breach of personnel data. The breach was discussed at a December 3, 2025 meeting of the board and reported on in the Dec. 10 Sounder. Chair Erik Johnson says a computer […]

A host of issues ranging from an aging demographic, inadequate rural transportation and technology are all impacting PEI’s agricultural workforce, which has gradually declined over the last decade. In 2016 there were 4,868 jobs on Island farms. That number has dwindled to 4,390, according to the Vital Signs 2025 report, released last week by the […]

The platform, announced recently, will connect all publicly funded home care agencies with Nova Scotia Health’s (NSH’s) continuing care program, allowing for real-time access to information and more efficient booking when appointments are cancelled. It is expected to launch in mid-2027. “Guysborough County Home Support Agency (GCHSA) is the only home support provider in Guysborough […]

The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has laid out how bylaw complaints and inquiries will be reviewed, investigated and enforced under an updated enforcement policy. Council unanimously received the information report last Tuesday. Before the report, the town already enforced bylaws using an “engage, educate, then enforce” approach and accepted complaints through a public process outlined on […]

Manitoba’s teacher registry is undergoing changes so the public is more in the know when educators are subject to an ongoing investigation. The province announced the minor regulatory update Thursday, a little over a year after the initial version of the database came online. “In the past, a teacher could’ve voluntarily surrendered their certificate and […]

Niagara-on-the-Lake council is moving ahead with the recommended next steps for the former hospital on Wellington Street, but not without some debate over whether the town is moving either carefully or too slowly on deciding what to do with the old building — particularly, some say, with an election coming down the pike later this […]

Amid intense public scrutiny of the contaminated former General Motors site in St. Catharines, including concerns about an offline filtration system meant to eliminate toxic chemicals from stormwater runoff, the property owner has ordered further lab testing on the northern portion of the 55-acre property, the City has shared.  In a post on the City […]

If creating boundaries between you and your smartphone is on the list of New Year’s resolutions, a Calgary software developer might be able to offer support. In late 2024, Ali Waseem felt stuck with the endless options and distractions social media presents. Now, one year later, his idea has helped more than 50,000 people kick […]