26 h. ago Rain on way after Vancouver Island wildfire grows by more than half

PORT ALBERNI — A forecast of up to 40 millimetres of rain is expected to help firefighters battling a wildfire that has been raging near Port Alberni, B.C., on Vancouver Island this week. The Mount Underwood fire that has triggered evacuation orders and alerts measured more than 34 square kilometres on Thursday, about 58% larger […]

Events

4 d. ago Locals call for end to Toronto yacht club that built dozens of gazebos on waterfront

As Toronto works to combat what police call a "growing" issue of unlicensed, unsafe boaters and jet skiers around the city's most popular beaches, residents living near a different local shoreline are demanding action against another group of watercraft users: a private yacht club.The Toronto Humber Yacht Club has been a presence on the Humber River, just south of Bloor, since the mid-1950s, taking up a total of 3.09 acres (0.92 of them in the water itself) that it leases from the City.But, with its contract up for renewal — to potentially be extended another 20 years when council makes its decision this fall — community members are pushing back with claims that the facility is a huge threat to the local ecosystem, having expanded vastly over the years.A recently-launched petition cites the club's construction of a whopping 60 gazebos along the river, expressing concern about its expansion "beyond its allocated footprint," ...

Other

7 d. ago Toronto's growing tech industry is getting international attention

Toronto's growing reputation as a global climate tech leader is receiving international recognition, with a recent article from Forbes hailing the city as "one of North America's most important climate innovation hubs." The article, titled "How Toronto Is Emerging As North America's Next Big Climate Tech Hub," highlights the city's impressive combination of world-class universities, scientific expertise, and forward-thinking governance, which have helped position it at the forefront of the global climate tech movement. "In the United States, climate ambition is increasingly becoming a state-by-state affair," the article notes. "But north of the border, Canada has been quietly filling the vacuum. Nowhere is that more evident than in Toronto." Supported by a talented pool of over 285,000 tech workers, Toronto now boasts one of the largest technology sectors in the world. The tech workforce has grown by more th...

Society

8 d. ago Toronto police are cracking down on a growing issue along the city's waterfront

Toronto boaters and boat rental companies likely aren't too thrilled about recent changes to the city's beaches, some of which now have (or soon will have) waterfront exclusion zones that prohibit motorized vessels from getting within a certain distance of the shore.But, this demographic may be one of the only ones that isn't celebrating what many locals are seeing as much-needed restrictions.The new regulations came into effect around Hanlan's Point Beach in late May, and plans to extend the same bylaws to Woodbine Beach, Humber Bay Park, Bluffer's Park and potentially others are also in the works.In the meantime, Toronto police have been embarking on blitzes to combat what they call a "growing" problem of errant boaters in the harbour, particularly unlicensed personal watercraft (a.k.a. jet ski) rental operators and their customers.The force's Marine Safety Unit recently reported the results of what it deeme...

Events

3 w. ago Court rules Mississippi’s social media age verification law can go into effect

A Mississippi law that requires social media users to verify their ages can go into effect, a federal court has ruled. A tech industry group has pledged to continue challenging the law, arguing it infringes on users’ rights to privacy and free expression. A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals overruled […]

Other

4 w. ago Toronto's silent disco scene is quietly taking the city by storm

You might've walked past one in Toronto and not even known it — a crowd of people moving in sync, flashing LED headphones glowing in the dark, seemingly dancing to...nothing? Welcome to Toronto's silent disco scene, a growing subculture that merges party energy with peace and quiet, and just might be the city's best-kept secret.Silent discos — parties where music is broadcast via wireless headphones instead of loudspeakers — have been popping up everywhere from downtown rooftops to public parks.And while they may seem like just another quirky nightlife trend, they're surprisingly in tune with Toronto's push for quieter, more sustainable urban spaces.Sustainability in the streetsOne of the biggest wins for silent discos? Their environmental and social footprint. Without booming speakers, these parties are far less disruptive to neighbours, wildlife, and the city's soundscape — a major plus in a metropolis that's been gradually rethi...

Other