Weekly News Recap: May 1, 2026

Weekly News Recap: May 1, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during an announcement on the Canada Strong Fund, Canada's first sovereign wealth fund, in Ottawa on Monday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. — Henry Ford

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: ‘Cries of delight’ as Sumatran orangutan filmed using canopy bridge to cross road for first time (The Guardian) I love animal crossings. Thanks to ViTreo Weekly Recap contributor Mick Mulloy for sharing this article. "The critically endangered Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a canopy bridge to cross a road. In 2024, conservationists in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra in Indonesia built the bridge high over the Lagan-Pagindar road, which provides an essential route for local people but which became a barrier for animals."

  • VIDEO: This video of Boston Marathon runners helping a man cross the finish line will heal you (CBC) #Beautiful I am running a race this coming weekend. I hope I don't need help but...if I do... "It's one of those rare moments that makes you feel something. No, not rage. Not despair. Not even mildly disgruntled. But something ... positive. Yes, even in 2026."

  • VIDEO #TheMoment a Canadian won the biggest rodeo in the world (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #Exciting "Jacob Gardner tells The National about the moment he became the first Canadian to win the bull-riding championship at the world's biggest rodeo in Houston."

  • New Zealand’s beak performance (Globe and Mail) #Lovely Thanks to ViTreo Recap contributor Mick Mulloy for this article. "The morning tour group is nearing the end of a two-hour visit to Zealandia, the pioneering eco-sanctuary in the hills of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. They have glimpsed many of the birds on their list, from a chunky parrot called the kaka to the petite North Island robin. But there is one they haven’t seen."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment a cougar swam off Vancouver Island (CBC) VANCOUVER ISLAND STORY #Wow "Jenna Evans tells The National about the moment she spotted a cougar swimming off the coast of Tofino, B.C."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Fidelity and Vanguard Won’t Allow Donations to Southern Poverty Law Center (New York Times) The dark side of DAFS. "Two of the country’s largest sponsors of donor-advised funds have cut off the Southern Poverty Law Center. Last week, the Justice Department indicted the civil rights nonprofit on charges of committing financial crimes. Many of the center’s supporters immediately went online to donate money to help it fight the federal government. But Fidelity Charitable told its customers, who have over 350,000 charitable giving accounts that allow them to maximize tax savings while giving money to eligible nonprofits, that they could not donate to the center through the accounts anymore."

  2. VIDEO: Canada is getting a sovereign wealth fund. What are they and how might this one work? (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #GreatIdea "Prime Minister Mark Carney said [...] his government will create a sovereign wealth fund — the first of its kind, at least at a federal level. The government says the new Canada Strong Fund will work in partnership with private industry to serve as an investment vehicle for the major national projects this government has expressed interest in."

  3. VIDEO: Ukraine’s killer robots | About That (CBC) Umm... "Five years into the war with Russia, Ukraine faces persistent manpower problems. Andrew Chang explores the advantages and limitations of using unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the front line, in Ukraine and beyond."

  4. The YMCA and Calgary Public Library are joining forces(Calgary Citizen) CALGARY STORY Great news! "YMCA Calgary and Calgary Public Library have announced plans for a joint-use recreation and library facility in Calgary's West District, responding to rapid population growth in an area with a high concentration of young families."

  5. Northeastern’s Marine Science Center is the go-to place for lobster captains and fishmongers with rare colorful lobsters (Northeastern Global News) Lobsters are so interesting. "With the latest donation of a rare 'cotton candy claws' lobster, the menagerie of colorful crustaceans at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant continues to grow, thanks to donations from lobster boat captains and a Marblehead fishmonger."

  6. Candice Goudie named new president of Sport Calgary (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Congrats Candice! "Sport Calgary, a non-profit municipal council that advocates for sports in the city, has named Candice Goudie its next president following the departure of Catriona Le May Doan late last year."

  7. VIDEO: Calgary releases first priority projects under GamePLAN recreation strategy (Global News) CALGARY STORY More please. "The City of Calgary has released its highest priority recreation projects, which includes building new facilities as well as upgrades and renovations on existing recreation centres across the city. The 17 projects are among the first wave of GamePLAN, the city’s 25-year strategy to address a growing strain on the public recreation system caused by aging facilities, rising costs and a rapidly-growing population."

  8. VIDEO: Calgary man revealed as longtime anonymous donor at Caffe Beano inspires mental health fundraising push (CTV) CALGARY STORY #LocalHero "For years, customers at Caffe Beano would occasionally be met with a surprise at the cash register – a free coffee, a paid meal or a gift card quietly covering the cost. Now, that anonymous generosity has a face, and it’s helping drive donations for mental health research at the University of Calgary."

  9. Canada joins first summit focused on moving away from fossil fuels (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "After years of frustration with stalled debate over fossil fuels at UN climate talks, more than 50 countries are gathering in Colombia for the first summit focused entirely on phasing out oil, gas and coal. The conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels opens today in Santa Marta as countries try to push the issue outside the regular UN process, where major producers have often resisted efforts to curb fossil fuel use."

  10. Canadian poet Karen Solie wins $239K Windham-Campbell Prize (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Congrats. "Saskatchewan-born poet Karen Solie is having a huge year. She won the Governor General's Literary Award, T.S. Eliot Prize and the Forward Poetry Prize. Now, she adds the Windham-Campbell Prize, an anonymously judged literary award worth $175,000 US (approx. $238,928 Cdn), to her repertoire."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. The Hidden Problem With Note-Taking Isn’t Taking — It’s Finding (Long.Sweet.Valuable) Some great ideas here. Personally, I use search first.

  2. Tech Habits: How I Organize My Life Into Six Areas (Geet Dugall) Interesing approach. 'How do I relate to this' as a categorizer.

  3. The Art of Conversation and Relationship Building (AFP Global) A lost art. Hopefully, one that can be regained.

  4. The Best Juicy Skillet Pork Chops (Inspired Taste) I made this recipe last week -- yum.

  5. I send this 10-word message regularly to friends, ex-colleagues and mentors: ‘Being remembered is surprisingly powerful’ (CNBC) This is a refreshing mental health hack.

  6. Channel Surfer - Watch YouTube Like It's Cable TV (Channel Surfer) Ha! Just like your TV channel guide.

  7. The secret society of people who know the WD-40 formula (Boing Boing) This and Coca Cola.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Sunnybrook Announces $41 Million Gift to Advance Canada’s Global Leadership in Clinical Trials (Sunnybrook Foundation) TORONTO STORY "This philanthropic investment was made possible through the generosity of the Weston family."

  2. $3 million donation to OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute will advance excellence in cardiovascular research, care, education (OHSU) Love OHSU. "Oregon tech executive Renee James has made a generous philanthropic gift of $3 million to the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, bolstering the institute’s reputation as a world-class center for patient care and scientific excellence and innovation."

  3. HEC Montréal receives a historic $20M donation from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation (Education News Canada) MONTREAL STORY #Wowzers "HEC Montréal is honoured to announce a historic donation of $20 million from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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