Weekly News Recap: May 8, 2026

Weekly News Recap: May 8, 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with Louise Arbour to announce the new governor general during an event in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

The search for the truth is becoming more elusive. At a time where access to information is easier, wider, and faster than it's ever been. -- Louise Arbour, 31st Governor General of Canada

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: I was struggling as a new mother. Finding my mom group made me realize I wasn't alone (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Watching the mothers in my life reach out has taught me how important peer groups are. #IHeartThis "At one baby group, I met Cecily. When she shared her experiences with motherhood, I recognized something in her I felt in myself: a fierce love for her baby paired with a self-imposed pressure to do everything perfectly. I awkwardly asked if she liked coffee and our friendship began. We spent hours in coffee shops talking about our unfamiliar postpartum bodies and how impossible everything felt. We quickly started meeting with the rest of our mom group: Arleigh, Alexandra, Caoimhe, Jemma and Sarah."

  • VIDEO: A perfect fit: How a cobbler from China became a legend of Red Deer’s western scene (CBC) RED DEER STORY I am definitely going to visit when I next need a pair of good cowboy boots. "When Wei Mah came to Alberta in the 1950s from China, few could’ve predicted he would soon open a store that would become a fixture in Red Deer’s western scene. Now, 70 years later, his family business is still standing tall as a landmark in Red Deer history."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment Canadian students won an innovation award at a world robotics competition (CBC) NOVA SCOTIA STORY Congrats to all. "Four Nova Scotia students, Neelan and Easen Wong and Alyssa and Michael Campbell, tell The National about the moment they won an innovation award at the FIRST World Robots Competition in Houston."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment a polar bear passed through a N.L. town (CBC) NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR STORY Scary but also cool. "Kristie Hurley tells The National about the moment she saw a polar bear strolling past her parents' house in St. Anthony, N.L."

  • VIDEO: Whistler search-and-rescue dogs are retiring after 10 years (CBC) WHISTLER STORY #Heroes "Two search-and-rescue members are hanging up their gear and heading into retirement. As CBC's Alanna Kelly reports, the four-legged members have certainly earned their rest."

  • VIDEO: Buffalo Sabres fans stepped in to save ‘O Canada,’ raising the bar on what anthems are about (New York Times) CANADIAN CONTENT We love our border friends. "Shane Doan, the 402-goal scorer and Olympian from the Alberta prairie, was in awe before the game began. Seconds into 'O Canada,' national anthem singer Cami Clune’s microphone malfunctioned. A dutiful crowd of 19,070 — Shane and Andrea Doan included — rushed to her aid with a full-throated, word-for-word reinforcement."

  • VIDEO: #TheMoment a heron was freed from a giant oyster (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY Eeek, that is a big oyster. "B.C. Wildlife Response Team leader Elizabeth Grant and veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton tell The National about the moment they freed a heron's foot from a massive oyster in Maple Ridge, B.C."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Three new galleries to be created at The Confluence in Calgary (CTV) CALGARY STORY Nice. And if you are around on May 27th, they have even more news to share ;-) "A Calgary facility that showcases Indigenous history is getting a major facelift. The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland will create three new permanent galleries with almost $350,000 in funding from the Tourism Growth Program offered through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)."

  2. VIDEO: Louise Arbour will become governor general at a delicate moment (CBC) CANADIAN STORY What an excellent choice as our new Head of State. I have been a huge fan of Ms. Arbour ever since she served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in Hague. " 'At a time when much of the world is buffeted by crisis and the worst are full of passionate intensity, Canada's history, our institutions, and our enduring traditions matter more than ever,' Mark Carney said on Tuesday as he stood beside governor general-designate Louise Arbour. 'We retain our convictions. We reinforce our institutions.' The idea of institutional strength and value played prominently throughout Carney's remarks. Arbour, he said, would bring to Rideau Hall a 'conviction that institutions are the load-bearing walls of a civil society, and that they remain trustworthy only as long as someone is willing to hold them accountable.' "

  3. VIDEO: Canada's mid-size cities are growing like big ones — and running into the same fights (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "For generations, growth in many Canadian cities meant the same thing: new subdivisions at the edge of town, detached homes, longer roads and outward expansion. Now, rising land costs, changing affordability pressures, population growth and public policies have pushed builders to add more multi-unit housing, not just newer subdivisions at the edges of cities."

  4. VIDEO: Quick-service restaurants are taking a bigger hit as Canadians feel crunched by the cost of living (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "While restaurants of all kinds are feeling pinched, quick-service restaurants are getting hit harder than higher-end ones, according to a report from Restaurants Canada. It's a signal of a K-shaped economy, where those with the most money can still shell out for a nice meal, but those with lower incomes have no option but to cut back, according to Restaurants Canada president and CEO Kelly Higginson. 'It shows that low-income households in particular are being more impacted by the current instability and the impacts in the economy and are pulling back a bit more on discretionary spending as they are the hardest hit within the economy right now,' said Higginson."

  5. Millennials more likely to live with their parents than past generations: StatsCan report (CBC) CANADIAN STORY We see this trend in our own family. "Millennials in 2021 were twice as likely to live with their parents than baby boomers were when they were young adults, according to a new report — though the high cost of housing isn't entirely to blame. The report from Statistics Canada out today analyzed data from three census cycles to compare changing housing dynamics across three generations: millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers. StatsCan found that 16.3 per cent of millennials aged 25 to 39 were living with a parent as of 2021, whereas 8.2 per cent of baby boomers were doing the same at those ages in 1991. "

  6. Outlier on the Prairies (Globe and Mail) EDMONTON STORY #Ugh "While most jurisdictions are experiencing a downward trend, there are significant disparities in pockets of both countries where drug deaths continue to mount. In the U.S., that includes Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. In Thunder Bay, Ont., the death rate is five times higher than the provincial average. In some cities, grim annual records are still being broken. Edmonton is the only Alberta city that surpassed its deadliest year for drug-related deaths in 2025. It is one of seven cities profiled in provincial data, which have been collected since 2016."

  7. Honorary Degree and Order of the University of Calgary recipients announced ahead of spring 2026 convocation (UCalgary) CALGARY STORY Congrats to all the recipients with special shout outs to Deborah Yedlin, Marilyn and Jeff McCaig, and Jackie Flanagan. "From global leadership and Indigenous knowledge‑keeping to journalism, philanthropy, athletics and community advocacy, this spring’s Honorary Degree and Order of the University of Calgary recipients represent a remarkable breadth of achievement and service. The honours will be presented at the Spring 2026 Convocation ceremonies, Chancellor Jon Cornish and President and Vice‑Chancellor Ed McCauley have announced."

  8. VIDEO: #TheMoment a shark chased a foil surfer (CBC) #Scary "Tavis Boise and Ron Takeda tell The National about the moment a shark went into pursuit mode while they were foil surfing in Santa Barbara, Calif."

  9. VIDEO: Your past is calling: Why 'retro' landline phones are trending with adults and kids alike (CBC) I asked my daughter about this. She said that she is tired of 'always' being on her iPhone. #Wow "The hottest phone on the market right now looks like something '90s kids might have used to nervously hang up on their Grade 7 crush, call the mall to check when HMV opened, or dial their local radio station to request the newest Boyz II Men ballad. It plugs into the wall, doesn't have a screen, and is, for all intents and purposes, a landline. Yes, with a cord and everything. The Tin Can is a parent-controlled home phone, has already sold hundreds of thousands of units in Canada and the U.S., since the Seattle-based startup launched last year. Chet Kittleson, the company's co-founder and CEO, told CBC News that the first five batches are completely sold out, and the sixth is set to launch in June."

  10. $19M gift to The Center sparks deep rift with gay seniors (Times of San Diego) "A generous endowment to a nonprofit has led to years of issues around transparency and finances. In 2022, the San Diego LGBT Center received the largest donation in its history, one that exceeded its annual operating budget. The $19 million gift, from Fallbrook couple Maurice Thimot and M. Rust Rawnsley, was intended to help house LGBTQ+ seniors."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. Creatine 101: What You Actually Need to Know (Fitlife Strategy Without The Noise) I use it when I have a weight-training day. I see the difference.

  2. Google Maps Just Got a Massive Upgrade: 5 Game-Changing Features You’ll Actually Use (Illumination) You're welcome.

  3. Dear Pets, I Forbid You To Die (Daniel Williams) As someone who has been the guardian of many animals, I have been through this. It is heartbreaking privilege to care for this amazing creatures throughout their entire life cycle.

  4. How To Resist The Urge To Only Listen To Music From Your Generation (Stanley C.) I am trying. Really. But, it is not easy. My Spotify says my listening age is 70+ (ha!).

  5. The 15-Minute Weekly Review That Replaced My Entire Productivity System (Just Talking Tech) Recapping is so important (you will be surprised by what you are reminded of and really need to attend to).

  6. Here’s How Long To Wait After Eating To Run (Marathon Handbook) Good advice. And, I have been wondering.

  7. Your Metabolism Has A Schedule—Here's How To Work With It (mindbodygreen) In short, eat earlier.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. St. Francis Xavier University receives the largest single private philanthropic gift in its 173-year history from The Honourable Frank McKenna and his family (Globe and Mail) NOVA SCOTIA STORY #Wow "Almost 60 years later, the same day two of his grandchildren are set to graduate from StFX, Mr. McKenna – a former premier of New Brunswick and Canadian ambassador to the United States – will return to Antigonish, N.S., to announce his family’s donation of $20-million in scholarships to the university."

  2. Largest gift in University of Alberta’s history continues historic partnership transforming women’s and children’s health (UAlberta) EDMONTON STORY #DoubleWow "Based at the University of Alberta, WCHRI is Canada’s only research institute dedicated to investigating women’s, children’s and perinatal health. It operates through a partnership with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Alberta Women’s Health Foundation and Alberta Health Services. Today, that partnership is making history. The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation announced a landmark gift of $93.5 million to WCHRI over the next 10 years — the largest gift in the U of A’s history. This commitment marks the third consecutive decade of the collaboration, adding to the foundations’ combined support of more than $112 million since 2006."

  3. Record £20m donation made to London Zoo charity (Civil Society) "A record £20m donation has been made anonymously to the charity that runs London and Whipsnade zoos as it marks its 200th anniversary."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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