Weekly News Recap: February 20, 2026

Weekly News Recap: February 20, 2026

Mikaël Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., receives his gold medal for his victory in the inaugural Olympic men's dual moguls competition at Milano Cortina 2026. The Canadian earns the fifth Olympic medal of his career (two gold and three silver), extending his record of Olympic medals won by a male freestyle skiing athlete.

I am very proud of my mom and consider her the most courageous woman I know. With perseverance, sacrifice and hard work, she raised a family of Olympic athletes and gave us the tools and the spirit to succeed. That is something that my brothers and I will always be thankful for. -- Diana Lopez

SOME GOOD NEWS

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. VIDEO: 'One of the best days of my life': Kingsbury wins Canada's 1st gold medal at Milano Cortina 2026 (CBC) CANADIAN STORY We are all very proud of you Mikaël. #GoCanadaGo "Mikaël Kingsbury ended his Olympic career on the top of the podium, winning the men's dual moguls final [...] to capture Canada's first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympic Games. Kingsbury won the big final against Ikuma Horishima of Japan, who took silver, while Matt Graham of Australia rounded out the podium in the bronze-medal position. It's the second medal win of these Games for the native of Deux-Montagnes, Que. Kingsbury took silver after losing a tiebreaker in the final of the moguls event on Thursday."

  2. New $52M science building at Yukon University to put new emphasis on Indigenous knowledge (MSN) WHITEHORSE STORY Congrats! "Yukon University's new $52-million science building will be a space where Western science can blend with Indigenous world views, school officials say. Work on the new facility is now underway. A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Whitehorse campus on Friday. 'Our current science labs where students are learning reflect a 1988 approach to science,' said Shelagh Rowles, the school's provost and vice president academic. 'This is a huge opportunity to be able to catch up.' "

  3. Cucumber costs are skyrocketing in Russia, and so is anger over wartime prices (CBC) "The humble cucumber, a favourite in Russian salads and meals, is the latest staple in the country to suddenly skyrocket in price, angering consumers and stirring up politicians and regulators keen to tamp down any popular discontent at a time of war. Official statistics show cucumbers have doubled in price since December to reach an average of just over 300 roubles per kilogram (or about $5.37 Cdn), and social media has been flooded with images of them sometimes being sold for more than twice or triple that. Under pressure from politicians — including those from the ruling United Russia party who face parliamentary elections later this year — the anti-monopoly regulator has written to producers and retailers, asking them to explain the price hikes."

  4. VIDEO: #TheMoment 2 Canadians tried every Winter Olympic sport (CBC) CANADIAN STORY I love my countrywomen! "Anne Lefebvre and Jenn Wroe tell The National about the moment they attempted to try every Winter Olympic sport, in Calabogie, Ont."

  5. VIDEO: UCalgary is proud to partner with the alumni-built Milk Jar Candle Company to celebrate our 60th anniversary. (LinkedIn) CALGARY STORY We LOVE these candles. "UCalgary is proud to partner with the alumni-built Milk Jar Candle Company to celebrate our 60th anniversary. What does School Spirit smell like to you? Join the celebrations and read about sixty years of kinship: UC60"

  6. VIDEO: The cost of love amid a cocoa crisis (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Oh no! 😮😲🫣 "Chocolate is a pretty common food found at most grocery stores across Edmonton. But cocoa beans are in short supply these days. And as the CBC’s Tristan Mottershead reports, these shortages aren’t ideal for Valentine’s Day."

  7. VIDEO: Red Deer's high school academy aims to spark interest in firefighting careers (CBC) RED DEER STORY This.Is.Brilliant. "Imagine graduating high school as a certified firefighter. That’s now a reality for high school students taking part in a new fire academy program, launched this month by Red Deer Public Schools. The semester-long program, run in partnership with Red Deer Emergency Services, will accept 20 students from Grades 11 and 12 each year. Students split their time between classroom studies at Lindsey Thurber Comprehensive and hands-on learning at Red Deer Emergency Services’ training facilities."

  8. Diocese bulletin offers some hope historic Lethbridge church might hold mass again (CBC) LETHBRIDGE STORY Good work everyone! Wishing for great things. ViTreo is proud to be working with the diocese on its overall fundraising program. "It would cost millions of dollars, but Grant Alger says he’s elated to be a step closer to St. Patrick’s Church hosting weekly mass in Lethbridge, Alta., for the first time in 15 years. 'It’s been a long fight to achieve this,' said the parishioner. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, which oversees churches in Lethbridge, made the announcement in late January. According to a bulletin by diocese Bishop William McGrattan, the 110-year-old church’s full reopening is contingent on upgrades like a new elevator and boilers 'to ensure the long-term viability of the structure, and to provide safe, accessible and code-compliant access to the church.' "

  9. VIDEO: Canadian curlers are being accused of 'double-touching.' But what's the advantage? (CBC) CANADIAN STORY I get that it is a rule but this is just daft. "The controversy over whether some Canadian curlers during the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics have been guilty of 'double-touching' the curling stone after its release has also raised a more significant issue. 'No. The double-touching that I've seen has been incidental contact, and that's fingers brushing or hand brushing on a 40-pound piece of granite,' said Eugene Hritzuk, a Canadian curler based in Saskatoon who has been involved in competitive curling and coaching for more than 60 years."

  10. VIDEO: Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor known for Tender Mercies and The Godfather, dead at 95 (CBC) RIP Mr. Duvall. We will not see your like again. "American actor Robert Duvall, known for his best-actor Oscar role in Tender Mercies and appearing in classics like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at 95."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. My Analog To-do List System (Sophie Aguado) Cool and simple system. Just how I like it.

  2. What A Short Afternoon Nap Actually Does to Your Brain (mindbodygreen) Ha! I knew it!

  3. VIDEO: Autobiography of a “Jeep” (1943) (The Public Domain Review) Love the jeep.

  4. VIDEO: Michelin Pancakes at Home (YouTube) Wow, these look amazing. Shrove Tuesday was this week so this is timely. #PancakesAnyone

  5. VIDEO: Cooking on the Edge of the World | Tasting the Wild Food of Newfoundland (YouTube) Mmmm...moose toungue. All kidding aside, this is a beautiful love letter to one of Canada's greatest places.

  6. How to Spatchcock a Chicken (The Art of Manliness) And...you can marinate it better.

  7. VIDEO: Goodbye bad posture 👋 #movement #posture #exercise (YouTube) Simple but effective exercises to help you stand tall.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Pymatuning schools receives $1 million donation for agricultural learning center (Star Beacon) "The Pymatuning Valley Local School Board accepted a $1 million donation from Kjell Andersen at [an] evening meeting, according to district superintendent Chris Edison. The money is earmarked for the construction of an agricultural learning center and any associated costs at the district’s campus, Edison said."

  2. USask launches Marcoux Leadership Program to develop future leaders (USask) SASKATOON STORY "The Marcoux Leadership Program, created through a generous gift from Russel Marcoux and Bonnie Marcoux, will embed leadership principles into a curriculum and offer an exclusive leadership coaching program for upper‑year students across campus."

  3. Chinook Regional Hospital receives $1M to support the Bringing Hearts Home Campaign in Lethbridge (CJWE) LETHBRIDGE STORY "The Chinook Regional Hospital received $1M donation from a local Lethbridge entrepreneur Chris Murray benefitting the Bringing Hearts Home campaign improving local cardiac healthcare services."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo President & CEO Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca.

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