Weekly News Recap: January 9, 2026

Weekly News Recap: January 9, 2026

Abigail Fulton, an advocate for British Columbia’s construction industry, says there’s no better time to consider a career in the trades. (CBC)

No amount of sophistication is going to allay the fact that all of your knowledge is about the past and all your decisions are about the future. – Ian H. Wilson (former GE executive)

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment skydivers set a new formation record (CBC) QUEBEC STORY #Wow "Simon-Pierre Bouchard and Jean-François Denis, skydivers from Quebec, tell The National about the moment they helped set a new canopy formation record with 104 skydivers from around the world."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment Parisians turned Montmartre into a ski hill (CBC) Ha. When I think of Montmartre, I think caricature painters, art stores, and African soccer kids. Now...skiing :-) "Paris photographer Loïc Lagarde tells The National about the moment he captured Parisians skiing and sledding down the snowy slopes of Montmartre."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. UCalgary scientists discover new fundamental property of diamond (UCalgary) CALGARY STORY #CoolBeans "Discovery could lead to advances in quantum science, laser, optical switch and modulator technology. A group of University of Calgary quantum scientists have discovered a unique property of diamond that was once thought impossible [...] The group demonstrated second-harmonic generation, the conversion of the light of colour to another by doubling the frequency and halving the wavelength of the light wave, in diamond."

  2. How Philanthropy Is Reshaping the Global Art Ecosystem (Observer) I am loving this shift! "The shift reflects broader changes in how cultural value is understood and sustained. Public funding for the arts remains uneven and, in many regions, insufficient to meet the demands placed on museums and cultural organizations. At the same time, audiences are asking more of institutions: greater accessibility, deeper engagement with social issues and more representative narratives. Philanthropy has increasingly stepped into this gap as a form of risk capital that allows institutions to experiment, expand or recalibrate their missions in response to a changing world. "

  3. AI Slop Will End Canadian Culture as We Know It (The Walrus) CANADIAN STORY The headline is a bit overly dramatic but the underlying sentiment is one we need to pay attention to. "A few weeks ago, the federal broadcast regulator, the CRTC, released a new definition of CanCon [Canadian Content]. It says that humans, not AI, must occupy key creative roles in a production to meet the requirements. That makes sense. But something more foundational requires parsing: the composition of the content itself. Before we can decide what qualifies as 'Canadian,' we need to be sure that what we hear, watch, or read is actually human-made."

  4. Small town and rural libraries feeling financial strain in Alberta (CBC) ALBERTA STORY "Alberta's population is growing, the costs libraries face are rising in a variety of areas, and the responsibilities libraries take on has dramatically expanded. But many library managers argue their funding hasn't kept up with these changes."

  5. VIDEO: Lego unveils new ‘smart bricks’ with interactive lights and sounds (CBC) Ah...the age-old tension between innovation and "progress" -- I say, innovate away Lego! "Lego has unveiled new high-tech 'smart bricks' it says will bring its classic toys to life with lights, sound and interactive movement. But one expert on early learning says that could lessen the potential for imaginative play that makes Lego a good toy for children’s development."

  6. VIDEO: B.C. jobs in high demand: Why 2026 may be the best time to learn a trade (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Want to "AI-proof" your job? Learn a trade. "Amid Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for nation-building projects and uncertainty around AI’s impact on the job market, an advocate for British Columbia’s construction industry says there’s no better time to consider a career in the trades. The rise of artificial intelligence has raised the possibility of declining job prospects in some sectors — particularly for younger workers — but Abigail Fulton, executive director of the Construction Foundation of B.C., says 'skilled tradespeople will be the last ones voted off the island.' "

  7. VIDEO: Alberta wildlife hospital says animal intake on the rise, 'interactions with people' largely to blame (CBC) ALBERTA STORY ViTreo is proud to be working with the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation. "A major wildlife rehabilitator in Alberta says the number of patients coming in is on the rise — and interactions with humans are largely to blame. The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, located about 30 kilometres north of Calgary, has admitted more than 38,000 animals since it was founded in 1993. In 2025 alone, it took in more than 2,000. 'We have seen an upward trend in the number of patients coming in, pretty much since the pandemic began,' said the centre's communications co-ordinator, Scottie Potter."

  8. 'Death ball' sponge, tiny opossum among cool new species of 2025 (CBC) We live in a weird and wondrous world. "A spider with extra-long genitalia (for a good reason); a carnivorous caterpillar that wears its prey's body parts; and a tiny, mountain-dwelling opossum are among the cool new species described by science in 2025. A new recent study reports that about 16,000 new species are "discovered" each year, a rate that is accelerating — 15 per cent of all known species have been newly described in just the past 20 years."

  9. Paris puts graves up for grabs with 'cemetery lottery' to help clean up forgotten tombstones (CBC) I would do this. #LoveTheFrench "Paris city hall is offering a rare chance to be buried among some of history's most celebrated artists. All it will take is a bit of luck, a few thousand euros and a desire to dust off a dilapidated tombstone. Wednesday was the deadline to register for a draw to purchase a burial spot in one of the city's iconic cemeteries, including Père-Lachaise. Winners will get the chance to restore a forgotten and overgrown grave."

  10. VIDEO: Governor General praises Canada's 'resounding sense of national pride' in New Year's message (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #ElbowsUp "Gov. Gen. Mary Simon praised the 'extraordinary solidarity' she saw in Canada in 2025 in her New Year’s address, pointing to the displays of support in communities hit hard by wildfire, the 'unprecedented economic co-operation' and the revitalization of Indigenous cultures and languages."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. VIDEO: Visvim's Toshiyuki Ueno On The Joy Of Ownership • A Type 7 Film (YouTube) Yes, this is Porsche marketing at its best but it is also about focusing life (and purchasing) on the things that will bring you long-term joy (and that will last long term). Also, this car is fantastic.

  2. The Expert Way Julia Child Made Perfect Omelets Without Them Sticking (The Takeout) I learned a lot of how to cook from Julia Child. This piece is worth it just for the proper way to season a pan.

  3. Most Effective Techniques to Increase Your HRV with Breathwork (Op e n Blog) Heart rate variability is the new black in health metrics. Increasing it is hard. This method will help (it is helping me). Also, this is an excellent overview of a variety of breathwork techniques.

  4. Canada’s first Christmas without the Hudson’s Bay Company (The Economist) CANADIAN STORY A fascinating (and sad) history of (what used to be) one of the world's oldest companies.

  5. VIDEO: How to warm up before a run 🏃‍♂️ (YouTube) I am terrible at warming up before a run. I am going to try these.

  6. VIDEO: The Science of Forgiveness: Why Letting Go Heals Your Brain (Greater Good Magazine) It is not about them. It's for you. Great message. Even better idea.

  7. The perfect morning routine: how to build a happy, healthy start to the day – from showers to sunshine (The Guardian) Some new and interesting spins on what is, arguably, the most important part of a great day.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Joyce Family Foundation donates $1.5 million to remove financial barriers for RDP students (Red Deer News Now) RED DEER STORY "Red Deer Polytechnic received a generous donation of $1.5 million from The Joyce Family Foundation. The institution says the donation means RDP students will face fewer financial barriers when pursuing a post-secondary education, as the donation will expand access and opportunities for learners across the province."

  2. Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp Saved by $2M Donation - News Radio 560 KPQ (560KPQ) "After the Wenatchee Valley YMCA (Y) announced its plans to sell its historic Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp, the Y announced the camp will stay open after a major donation. In a press release, the YMCA said CEO of Weidner Apartment Homes, Dean Weidner, purchased the camp for $2 million and agreed to lease it back to the Y for $10 per year for 99 years."

  3. A Mass. billionaire couple donated $100M for mental health care at Boston Children’s Hospital (MASS LIVE) "Earlier this month, Boston Children’s Hospital received a $100 million donation earmarked for pediatric behavioral health, the largest gift in the hospital’s history. The “transformational donation,” as the hospital called it, was given by Rob and Karen Hale, a billionaire Quincy couple known widely for their philanthropy."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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