Perseid meteor shower and partial solar eclipse to give skywatchers a celestial show
By Morgan Lowrie Skywatchers in Quebec and beyond will get a unique show this week, as the Perseid meteor shower coincides with a partial solar eclipse. The Astrolab astronomy centre at the Mont-Mégantic, Que., provincial park says shooting stars will rain down from the sky between Tuesday and Friday. On Wednesday, the meteor shower will combine with a partial solar eclipse to create a rare celestial alignment. Sébastien Giguère, the Astrolab’s scientific coordinator, says the Perseid meteor shower can feature up to 100 shooting stars per hour, compared to about five on an average night. “From time to time, Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind by a comet, leaving behind more dust in the solar system,” Giguère said in a phone interview. “And when Earth crosses that...
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Ontario fire crews making good progress despite large area burned, minister says
By Allison Jones Ontario’s fire crews are making progress fighting wildfires, the minister of natural resources said Tuesday, with dozens extinguished in the last two weeks and far fewer burning out of control than earlier in the busy season. More than 80 fires have been put out since the last update in July, Mike Harris said, and currently there are 152 active fires, with 12 burning out of control. “While we’re not in the clear here in Ontario yet, we are confident that we have the crews and the aircraft that we need to get the job done,” Harris said at a press conference. The wildfire season in terms of number of fires has not been too abnormal, but in terms of the area burned this year is “way surpassing”...
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Manitoba RCMP say they’re investigating suspicious death of four-year-old girl
Manitoba RCMP say they’re investigating the suspicious death of a four-year-old girl. Mounties say Manitoba First Nation Police were called by paramedics to a home in Long Plain First Nation, west of Winnipeg, early Sunday morning. The girl died at the scene despite efforts to resuscitate her. The RCMP says two other young girls in the home, one and two years-old, were transported to hospital and are in stable condition. Mounties say because of the nature of the death and the two serious injuries, their major crime services unit has taken over the investigation. Supt. Rob Lasson says RCMP investigators are working closely with the Manitoba First Nation Police Service and Long Plain First Nation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 11, 2026. ...
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Manitoba’s first supervised consumption site set to fully open
Manitoba’s first supervised consumption site is set to fully open today in Winnipeg after lengthy delays. The province had initially said it was aiming to open a site in 2025, but pushback on the first chosen location and other complications created delays. The NDP government has partnered with the non-profit agency Aboriginal Health and Wellness to run the site, which will be open between Tuesday and Saturday from late morning to early evening. The site doesn’t provide drugs but is meant as a place where the potential harms of using them can be reduced while also connecting people to support services. The site in central Winnipeg has been criticized by some business owners and residents concerned about security, while the Opposition Progressive Conservatives have said the government should focus on...
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B.C. wildfire evacuees told to brace for devastation, as RCMP launch criminal probe
By Brenna Owen Heartbroken Okanagan-area officials have told wildfire evacuees to prepare themselves for the level of destruction left by a deadly blaze in B.C.’s southern Interior that police say has triggered a criminal investigation. The out-of-control Bald Range fire is on the outskirts of Summerland, whose mayor told the community’s 12,000 residents they would not be returning to their homes on the shores of Okanagan Lake any time soon. “We need to brace ourselves for what’s there or what’s not there,” said Doug Holmes, his voice shaking with emotion at a briefing in nearby Penticton on Monday evening. “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be really hard. We all know people right now who have lost homes. We all have friends who have lost homes and those...
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B.C. RCMP investigate cause of deadly Summerland wildfire that sent 20,000 fleeing
By Brenna Owen RCMP are investigating the cause of the deadly wildfire that forced 20,000 to evacuate as it roared towards the Okanagan community of Summerland in British Columbia’s Interior, while saying they also want to stamp out “misinformation” about how the fire started. Widely circulated social media videos show someone lighting a bear-banger device, and they are blamed for the fire, but police say the incident occurred kilometres for where the Bald Range blaze started last Friday and the person was interviewed by police as a witness and not a suspect. “The public is cautioned against making false statements and to stop the continuation of misinformation on social media,” police said in a statement on Monday. Investigators are looking into “all reports of suspicious activity which may have led...
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Alberta to review Amber Alert criteria and day home after death of Calgary boy
Alberta’s government will review its Amber Alert system and the policies of a Calgary day home after the death of an 11-year-old boy with autism. The province says the review will assess the criteria that needs to be met for an alert to be issued and will include the perspectives of police, disability advocates and other community organizations. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says the death of Parker Wells was heartbreaking and that the government wants to learn from what happened. Parker’s disappearance from a northern Calgary day home prompted a massive two-week search that saw hundreds of police officers and civilians scour city blocks and play Disney music to try to find him. Police had said the boy’s body was found July 29 deep inside an underground pipe system...
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Three people injured after helicopter crashed into N.W.T. lake: RCMP
RCMP in the Northwest Territories say three people were injured after a helicopter crashed into a northern lake. Police say they received a call about the crash on Sunday afternoon near Gameti, a First Nation located about 375 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife. Police say the three people aboard the helicopter were found nearly three hours after the crash and taken to a health centre with minor injuries. RCMP say local officials and residents helped in the search for the people. Investigators didn’t provide details on what caused the crash. They say it’s been referred to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada for investigation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 10, 2026. ...
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Repeated evacuations strain mental health in Northern Ontario
By Jon Thompson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ricochet Nova Moonias is only two weeks old but she has already flown home to Neskantaga First Nation following an evacuation, and five days later, she was evacuated again. Nova’s mother Wanita was living in a Toronto hotel in July, after fleeing forest fires that threatened the northwestern Ontario fly-in community. The baby was expected on August 12, but medical professionals induced labour on July 28 so mother and child could fly back north with their family and neighbours. The three-day-old became a symbol of hope in that moment; Neskantaga’s evacuees were returning home with one more member than had left. Five days later, following a sewage leak, Nova had to fly out again, and leaders say that short-lived hope has given way...
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Brantford now has Blue Emergency Phones in Downtown Core
BRANTFORD, ONT-Brantford is enhancing community safety in the downtown area by installing two code blue emergency phones in Harmony Square at 89 Dalhousie Street. In a press release, the City of Brantford said this would improve access to emergency assistance and strengthen public safety. Code Blue phones provide an immediate connection to emergency services, which allows residents to report medical emergencies, public safety concerns, and unlawful activity more quickly. The emergency phones will work through the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system already in place at Harmony Square. They also support the planned expansion of the downtown security infrastructure. Brandon Partridge, Supervisor of Surveillance for the City of Brantford, said the phones will make it easier for people to access help right when they need it. “Whether someone is experiencing a medical...
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More orcas coming to Nunavut waters due to declining sea ice: researcher
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Around 200 killer whales are migrating through waters near Arctic Bay, and those numbers are increasing, according to Department of Fisheries and Oceans researcher Cory Matthews. The whales, also called orcas, don’t all come at the same time. But the predators eat beluga, narwhal, bowhead whales, hurting the hunting opportunities for the local community. Matthews has been going to Admiralty Inlet to study killer whales and their impact on the environment since 2009, and he planned to return during the first week of August. Working with the Ikajutit Hunters and Trappers Association (HTA), researchers shoot tracking beacons using crossbows onto the orcas. “If we can find people who are interested in coming back year after year, and train them up...
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Battle for the Bay – Cree Nation Jr Trappers capture national championship
By Jamie Pashagumskum, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation In a stunning come-from-behind victory, the Cree Nation Jr Trappers defeated the Moose Cree Scrappers 4-3 in overtime to secure their first-ever national title at the National Indigenous Junior Hockey Championships held in Toronto July 16-19. In a gold medal game dubbed “The Battle for the Bay”, the two Cree teams from opposite coasts of James Bay left it all on the ice. The Jr Trappers faced off against a stacked Moose Cree team that included tournament MVP Sam McCue, a 7th-round draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024. “Everyone was gunning for us, and we knew it was going to happen,” said Moose Cree coach Jordan Cheechoo. The defending champion Scrappers opening the scoring with an unassisted goal...
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A Cree Ambassador – Esquay Masty shines at Miss Indigenous Canada pageant
By Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation Waswanipi’s Esquay Masty proudly represented Eeyou Istchee at the third annual Miss Indigenous Canada pageant, hosted July 24 by Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario. While the title was ultimately won by Brooke Metchewais from Cold Lake First Nation, Masty achieved a place in the prestigious top five. The five-day program was filled with workshops, cultural tours, formal dinners and other activities supporting the development of community leaders. During the final showcase, Masty’s eloquence spotlighted her ability to be an ambassador for Indigenous youth across the country. “You do not need to be on Chief and Council to be a leader,” asserted Masty in her semi-final speech. “You are already a leader. For me, leadership is not going...
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Crowning Highlight – Mamoweedow concert honours the return of Kashtin to Chisasibi
By Natalia Fedosieieva, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nation Hundreds gathered in Chisasibi’s Jobs Memorial Gardens July 19 for what many described as celebration of Indigenous unity. The Mamoweedow Committee hosted an Innu concert featuring legendary duo Kashtin alongside Bryan André, Ninan, Scott Pien-Picard and Maten. According to Mamoweedow president James Napash, this family-friendly gathering brought people together “to share that feeling of a renewed spirit where we enjoy games and activities.” The annual Mamoweedow event attracts visitors from across Eeyou Istchee and beyond. Although rooted in Cree tradition, Napash emphasized the gathering welcomes everyone. “We had visitors coming in from the States,” he said. “They made a trip to the North, and they came all the way by motorcycles. There are always visitors from anywhere and everywhere.” Napash said...
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Alex Janvier’s art surrounds audiences in immersive film
By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week Soul Symphony: The Art of Alex Janvier was celebrated with a special launch at the Cold Lake Energy Centre on July 31. The event included film screenings inside a 36-foot dome, presentations, traditional drumming, and prayers. The 23-minute film featured Janvier’s artwork and stories, along with perspectives from his family, Cold Lake First Nations Elders and art experts. Janvier Gallery began working with Montreal-based Lucion Media on the project after being approached with the idea in 2020. Written and directed by Bernard Duguay, the film took five years to develop and used digital projection and sound to create an immersive presentation of Janvier’s art. Dean Janvier, the eldest son of the late artist, spoke about the traditional drumming that was...
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Canadian military on standby to help as B.C. wildfire losses mount and thousands flee
By Brenna Owen The Canadian Armed Forces are on standby to help the wildfire situation that deteriorated rapidly over the weekend in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, where one person has died, thousands have been evacuated and there’s been extensive property destruction. Defence Minister David McGuinty says B.C. sent a request for assistance to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski over the weekend, and she approved federal help with shelter and accommodation. McGuinty says that while the province hasn’t formally asked for military help, the Canadian Armed Forces are in “direct, constant contact” with the B.C. government and Ottawa. He says the military is ready the moment it receives a formal request to act, and the situation was being assessed “hour by hour.” Areas around Okanagan Lake have been devastated by the...
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Teenager Charged with Assault at Hagersville Business
HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – A teenager has been charged with assault after Haldimand County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested a person at a local business. OPP said they received a report of an assault at a Main Street North business Friday, July 31, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m., . OPP said two unknown individuals entered the business and one of the individuals, assaulted a person inside the store. A 14-year-old individual from Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation is charged with the following Criminal Code offences; Mischief – obstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property Assault The youth’s identity is protected under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Haldimand County OPP would like to thank the public and the media for...
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Canadian military on standby to help as B.C. wildfire losses mount and thousands flee
By Brenna Owen The Canadian Armed Forces are on standby to help the wildfire situation that deteriorated rapidly over the weekend in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, where one person has died, thousands have been evacuated and there’s been extensive property destruction. Defence Minister David McGuinty said B.C. sent a request for assistance to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski over the weekend, and she approved federal help with shelter and accommodation. McGuinty said on Monday that while the province had not formally asked for military help, the Canadian Armed Forces were in “direct, constant contact” with the B.C. government and Ottawa. He said the military was ready the moment it received a formal request to act, and the situation was being assessed “hour by hour.” Areas around Okanagan Lake were devastated...
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Proposed women-only taxi service in Iqaluit holding first meeting
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunavut News Rosalie DeMaio wants women to feel safe when travelling in Iqaluit. That hasn’t always been her experience when taking a taxi. “I’d be getting a ride home and they’d purposely go the wrong direction, and I’d have to tell them multiple times ‘Just take me home. I know this isn’t the right way’ or another experience is I’m just waiting to get driven home, and they’re like, ‘Hey, baby girl, how are you?’ And I’m like, ‘No, don’t, don’t talk to me like that,’” DeMaio said. She has also had taxi drivers in Iqaluit ask her to get in their vehicle, and when she declines, they follow her by driving in reverse, she said. In February, DeMaio applied for funding...
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Watchdog for $46 billion tribal gambling industry can’t enforce the law without a chairperson
By Savannah Peters ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — On opening day at the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s new Harrah’s-branded casino, the tribe’s chairman watched customers pack the gambling floor while a queue of cars spilled out of the parking lot. “We couldn’t let them in because we were so full,” Chairman Jacob Keyes said. “That’s a direct impact from the Harrah’s name.” But a vacancy in Washington is preventing the tribe’s partnership with the gambling giant from moving beyond branding. Plans for Harrah’s parent company to take over day-to-day management of the casino in Chandler, Oklahoma, stalled after it opened in April, because no one is at the helm of the federal commission that oversees tribal gambling. The last chairperson of the National Indian Gaming Commission stepped down from the role...
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