Thousands of kilometres from Earth, in an aluminum foil envelope, 2,600 Canadian seeds are on a voyage through outer space — along with the Artemis II crew.

“Looks a little bit like five aluminum ravioli stuck together, is what I’ve been telling people,” National Tree Seed Centre coordinator Darren Derbowka said.

The seeds include lodgepole pine, eastern white cedar, red maple, white birch and eastern white pine.

But they won’t be used to start a moon forest, or even for research. Instead, their purpose is much closer to home.

“Right now, 25 per cent of Canada’s native trees are imperiled or threatened in some way. So this project is really to sort of build that awareness around the importance of seed,” Derbowka said.

The National Tree Seed Centre, located in Fredericton, has over 13,000 seed collections of more than 250 species of trees and shrubs.

Derbowka said that conservation work is becoming more important as a result of climate change — and he hopes Artemis II will bring light to the important work happening on Earth.

“There’s already one planet in this solar system that needs terraforming and we are standing on it,” he said.

The seeds aren’t the only Canadian representation on board. Astronaut and London, Ont., resident Jeremy Hansen is on his way to making history as the first Canadian to fly around the moon. And University of New Brunswick faculty and students are tracking the spacecraft, Orion, as part of a volunteer program with NASA.

“It’s contributing a little piece of Canada onto a really important space exploration mission, and so the opportunity to do that is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Derbowka said.

 

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers didn’t make any flashy moves at the NHL trading deadline, but general manager Stan Bowman did obtain some impactful defensive-minded players who have contributed significantly to the team’s five-game winning streak.

Bowman and coach Kris Knoblauch knew the team has plenty of offensive firepower, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, so their focus was trying to shore up a leaky defensive system that had the team struggling to find a consistent winning formula.

“We felt going into the deadline we had enough offence,” Knoblauch said. “What we wanted was to get better defensively and we have gotten better. A lot of it was emphasis on what we can do with our systems, just details, but also we added two very defensive detailed players.”

Bowman acquired forward Jason Dickinson and defenceman Connor Murphy from Chicago and the two have played a lot of minutes against opponents’ top lines.

“With Dickinson and Murphy playing a lot of minutes against key matchups … those two have really solidified our identify and how we want to play,” said Knoblauch.

Murphy settled in alongside Darryl Nurse and that duo has become a solid second pairing on the blue line behind Mattis Ekholm and Evan Bouchard.

“I think we get excited because that’s our strength, wanting to defend hard and be thinking that way together,” Murphy said. “I see the competitiveness in (Nurse). He’s a fiery competitor and he wants to be physical and tough and be hard to play against. I feed off that energy that he brings.”

Murphy said knowing exactly what their role is has made it an easy transition.

“Every player wants to know what’s expected of you and you want that to align with what your strengths are,” he said. “So for us to be able to have a role that’s designated to our strengths really feeds good energy to our game.”

Bouchard said Murphy has been a great addition to the Oilers, who shifted their focus to an improved defence when Draisaitl was injured March 8. The star forward isn’t expected to return before the playoffs.

“He’s as solid as it comes,” Bouchard said of Murphy. “Hard guy to play against, great fit in our group, great addition, great guy to have in the room and it’s showing on the ice as well.”

Bouchard’s improved play since the Olympic break has also played a key role in the team’s defensive strides. Despite his occasional and often costly turnovers, Bouchard has a plus-22 rating, second on the team to Ekholm.

“Definitely a slow start for me,” the seven-year veteran admitted. “But things have picked up (at) a good time with the playoffs around the corner.”

For Dickson and Murphy, their motivation is to get to the playoffs for the first time after years of being on the outside in Chicago.

“For games to be meaningful and matter it’s huge,” Dickson said. “The last few years it’s been basically counting down the days and waiting for summer, back to the gym, getting reps in to prepare for the next season. Now it’s preparing for the next chapter of the season.”

The Oilers have six games remaining and they’re all against divisional opponents.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

The small northwestern B.C. community of Smithers will continue to have private security guards patrol its homeless encampment until the fall, when the town’s mayor said she hopes another solution will be in place.

“I think the combination of the temporary winter shelter, that closed (March 31), and security and the seasonality – in that some people will find other accommodation during the cold weather – all made a difference in the winter months,” said Gladys Atrill.

Since the emergency warming shelter funded by BC Housing in the former Fabrications building closed, the town expects anywhere from 14 to 20 people will soon be living in the encampment, where approximately four to seven people stayed over the winter.

The town of 5,400 does not have a permanent homeless shelter, and the encampment on the edge of Veterans Peace Park across from the municipal hall has been expanding since 2020.

Last year, Smithers council approved spending up to $234,000 annually for private security to monitor the officially designated Temporary Overnight Sheltering Area (TOSA) and conduct roving patrols of the downtown core.

Two Blue Hawk Security guards started Oct. 1, 2025 on a six-month trial basis, and to help maintain public safety, the town has extended their contract for overnight weekday and 24/7 weekend patrols until November 2026.

“It’s money that we’ve made the decision to spend in order to try to create the best circumstance that we can for everyone,” Atrill told Global News. “We are hoping that by next fall there is something in place and you know, what exactly it looks like I don’t know, but it will provide ideally, some shelter, the services that the shelter provided.”

 

In February, the town of Smithers said it was selected as one of the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and BC Housing’s HEART and HEARTH communities.

Funded by the province under the Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan, Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams or (HEART) increase coordinated outreach services, while Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing or (HEARTH), helps create new shelter and temporary housing spaces.

Smithers, according to BC Housing, is one of 15 local governments partnering with the province to put in place HEART and/or HEARTH.

“The HEART and HEARTH program focuses on both outreach and housing support, helping people with addiction and mental health challenges connect with services, while also providing physical shelter and pathways toward stable housing,” said Smithers community services director Samantha LeBlanc in an email.

BC Housing and Smithers will explore opportunities for a HEARTH site.

“We’re in conversation right now…on a permanent shelter space, location, and the supports to make sure it’s well integrated into the community,” said B.C. Housing Minister Christine Boyle Thursday.

The town said it will work closely with BC Housing to explore options for shelter opportunities and increased outreach supports for those who need it most.

“Council has also asked for clear public engagement as part of the process with BC Housing, so that we can seek solutions that our community supports,” said Smithers community services director Samantha LeBlanc in an email.

“The HEART and HEARTH program in Smithers as well as a permanent supportive housing project that were working closely with mayor and council on there will both continue to make a difference as well, in bringing people indoors,” Boyle told Global News in an interview.

“I know there’s no solution that everyone will love but I appreciate very much that the ministry and the minister have reached out,” Atrill said. “We’re going to walk down this path together and see what is the best we can do for this period of time before the permanent housing and shelter open.”

The Alfred Avenue project was announced in January 2024, and will provide 40 supportive housing units along with 20 permanent shelter beds.

According to BC Housing, construction is expected to start this summer with an estimated opening date of spring 2028.

Bulkley Valley Harm Reduction Society, which operated the temporary winter shelter at 3892 3rd Avenue, directed an interview request to BC Housing.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The restaurant business has weathered its fair share of troubles since the pandemic and labour shortages continues to be a main point of concern for the province’s hospitality industry.

“Restaurants are struggling with both input costs going up and of course the affordability crunch that the customers are feeling themselves,” said Mona Pinder, executive director of the Alberta Hospitality Association.

Which makes a new piece of legislation tabled in the Alberta legislature this week feel like another challenge for an already strained industry that relies on people from all walks of life to operate.

Bill 26, or the Immigration Oversight Act, would target employers who want to take advantage of foreign workers.

The bill would mean the creation of a public registry, and require employers and immigration consultation to be licensed.

Joseph Schow, Alberta’s immigration minister, said the bill is about protecting workers who come to the province to earn a living and to accurately address the needs of the current labour market.

“It is clear that in some instances, we have become over-reliant on temporary foreign workers,” Schow said at a news conference Wednesday.

He said the current system favours hiring foreign nationals for some jobs, bypassing young Canadians.

“As a result, some of the jobs that usually would’ve gone to Albertans as entry-level positions are now going to temporary workers.”

Schow said the legislation is about Alberta taking more control over immigration to fill jobs where needed and is “absolutely not” about restricting the number of temporary foreign workers coming to the province.

According to provincial statistics there are 271,024 non-permanent residents in Alberta. About 60 per cent of those hold work permits and six per cent hold work and study permits as of Jan. 1.

Those numbers have all decreased compared with the same time last year. The number of non-permanent residents fell by almost 26,000.

National advocacy group Restaurants Canada said in Alberta, foodservice is a $16-billion industry that employs 155,000 people, including 63,000 youth, who represent more than 40 per cent of workers.

Pinder said restaurants in some rural areas do not have the workforce to run at full capacity, especially with youth workers.

Restaurants Canada agreed, noting youths often have limited schedule availability due to school and other commitments and are concentrated in urban areas close to higher education institutions.

“You can’t operate a kitchen without a trained chef or maintain a 24/7 rest stop if no one is willing to work overnight,” Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada, said in a statement.

Restaurants Canada said temporary foreign workers make up three per cent of the foodservice workforce but are critical, particularly for skilled roles like chefs and cooks, for overnight shifts and in rural regions where there are not enough workers.

This is why businesses look to temporary foreign workers, even though that process can be expensive, Pinder said, adding Alberta’s bill duplicates rules already in place at the federal level.

“Alberta is kind of known for looking at red tape reduction,” Pinder said.

“This doesn’t really feel like reducing red tape.”

While the process will effectively duplicate the work already being done by Ottawa, Schow said it’s necessary to prioritize and address Alberta’s unique labour market needs, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.

Government officials said the plan is to publish the registry of employers who are approved to hire foreign workers. The bill will also establish a licensing system for immigration consultants and foreign worker recruiters to crack down on those who take advantage of vulnerable newcomers.

A new system for complaints and enforcement will be handled by Schow’s ministry. It aims to target those who charge money for job offers, misrepresent employment conditions, take illegal pay deductions or keep workers’ documents like passports.

Government officials said the regulatory framework proposed Wednesday is similar to existing legislation in Saskatchewan and British Columbia but will allow for different investigative powers.

Penalties will include fines, suspensions and bans from recruiting or hiring foreign nationals.

The legislation sets maximum fines of up to $1 million for individuals or $1.5 million for corporations. In severe cases, courts can imprison someone who violates the rules for up to a year.

Moshe Lander, an economist with Concordia University, says it is hard to gauge how the new measures would impact the economy, since the province is continuing to develop the bill’s regulations.

“If we’re going to have an economic analysis of what are the benefits and costs and what does this mean, and try and come up with a dollar amount, it’s almost impossible to do when we can’t model what we can’t see,” Lander said.

Cracking down on fraudulent activity and ensuring the protection of workers is important in maintaining the integrity of the TFW program, Restaurants Canada noted.

It and the Alberta Hospitality Association hope to see the provincial government instead scale up programs that have already seen success, like the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive.

The bill is currently tabled before the legislature. Schow said if passed, implementation could be seen as early as 2027.

With files from The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

It is no secret that high gas prices are affecting British Columbians and Canadians, but the impact is also affecting organizations.

“Starting to get anecdotal data, just when we’re comparing sort of the previous year and that sort of thing, where there’s more people again coming to the food bank,” Kim Savage, the Surrey Food Bank executive director, said.

Savage said that for many people, there is no room left in their budgets and higher gas prices are making it more expensive to get around, while driving up the price of food as those costs move through the supply chain.

“Sort of a one-two punch,” Savage said.

That same pressure is showing up at the Union Gospel Mission, with staff saying they are seeing more people who need emergency support.

“With the major increase in the cost of gas, we’ve actually noticed an uptick in folks trying to access the emergency hamper for the first time and also trying to access support services after cheque week,” Nicole Mucci with the Union Gospel Mission said.

More pressure may still be coming.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers says suppliers are already warning stores of price hikes and fuel surcharges.

“If you’re an independent grocer on tight margins of two per cent, that’s not a figure I plucked out of thin air, it’s Stats Can and you’re faced with double-digit price increases from your suppliers, you have to pass those on,” Gary Sands with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, said.

All of it is adding up for households already stretched.

The Surrey Food Bank says demand is up 50 per cent from just two years ago and it is still rising.

“The constant struggle with people’s pocketbooks in affordability, lagging economy, all of those sorts of things,” Savage said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The B.C. government is falling short on its own goal to process mineral claims more quickly, according to industry leaders.

Todd Stone, president of the Association for Mineral Exploration, said B.C. has an “abundance of critical minerals, precious metals, (and) rare earth metals that the world needs and the world wants.”

However, Stone says that mining companies are facing excessive government red tape over exploration.

“If they don’t get the ability to access these claims soon, a lot of these explorers could miss the exploration window this summer,” he said.

The B.C. government has a mineral claims consultation framework that governs the process for a miner moving from staking a claim to exploring the land to determine whether there is a viable mineral deposit to mine.

The Mines Ministry set a goal of processing applications in 90 to 120 days or faster, a window that was supposed to include 30 days for consulting with First Nations, but miners say only a fraction of permits are coming in within that time frame.

“Having to wait for six months for your mineral claims before you can go explore, it’s just way too long,” Darcy Vis with Tripoint Geological Services said.

B.C.’s Minister for Mining and Critical Minerals, Jagrup Brar, said the province is in the process of hiring 17 more staff to deal with exploration permits.

“So we are taking actions to improve the mineral claims consultation framework,” he said.

The Association for Mineral Exploration says the delays are, on average, a little more than three weeks beyond the government’s own target.

While that may not seem excessive, considering the complexity of the matter, the miners say it might mean they miss an important weather window to access certain places in B.C., and they say the government has had plenty of time to work out the new system.

“We are nowhere near where we should be in early April,” Stone said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A 21-year-old man has been charged following a traffic stop that led to a breakthrough in an ongoing extortion investigation involving members of Calgary’s South Asian community, according to police.

The Calgary Police Service said officers pulled over a vehicle on March 7 in the city’s northeast and quickly identified it as matching one linked to an extortion-related shooting days earlier, on March 4, in the 8000 block of Saddleridge Drive N.E.

The vehicle was seized and officers worked with investigators at the scene to document evidence and continue gathering information over the following weeks.

The evidence, combined with information gathered from previous incidents, helped investigators identify links between suspects, vehicles and a series of extortion-related shootings.

Nearly a month after the initial traffic stop, police charged Jaskaran Singh, 21, of Calgary, with discharging a firearm with intent and said his arrest was connected to the ongoing South Asian extortion investigation.

“This is a significant win for our investigators and for the community,” Supt. Jeff Bell said, adding that police will continue to pursue those responsible.

Police said Singh’s arrest marked the second this week connected to the extortion series. On April 1, police said Rana Cheema, 45, was charged with extortion and uttering threats.

Extortions by South Asians against members of their own cultural community began to make headlines in Western Canada two years ago.

Since then, police in Alberta and B.C. have been working with other law enforcement agencies to more effectively investigate crimes occurring across multiple jurisdictions.

The extortions have resulted in dozens of threats, shootings and other crimes against members of the South Asian community in both Edmonton and Calgary, and have stoked fear in the community about who could be targeted next.

Last month, police in Edmonton said investigators found criminal networks are recruiting newly-arrived young South Asian newcomers, like foreign students and workers, to help extort or commit petty crimes.

As of March 12, the CBSA has opened 372 immigration investigations, issued 70 removal orders and removed 35 people from Canada

Authorities in Calgary say there have been 41 extortion attempts in that city since January 2025, including 18 shootings at homes, businesses and vehicles, though no injuries have been reported.

Victims have also been receiving threats through international phone calls and social media platforms. Calgary police describe the investigation into the extortion allegations as complex and are asking for additional victims to come forward.

Police urge anyone who is targeted by extortion attempts, which typically involve threats or demands to make payment using messaging platforms like WhatsApp, to take the following steps:

• Do not respond to the threatening communication
• Preserve evidence by taking screenshots of incoming calls or messages
• Contact police immediately
• If you are concerned for your immediate safety, find a safe place to stay, such as a friend or family member’s home, until police can reach you

Investigators say the work is ongoing and more arrests are expected.

With files from Ken MacGillivray and Karen Bartko, Global News

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A B.C. diver has made an extraordinary discovery beneath the waters of Saanich Inlet.

Ancient cloud sponges were once thought to be extinct, but Ryan Swan from Be Sea Adventure captured them on video.

“It was really cool, like visually to see the sponges in their habitat, the way they are at Christmas Point was fascinating,” Swan said.

The dive site located in the Saanich Inlet is one of the few places in the world where ancient cloud sponges can be observed, but getting there isn’t easy.

“I had to take on technical dive training, which is an advanced type of scuba diving,” Swan said.

“So that helps you go beyond the limits of what recreational diving allows.”

Using specialized equipment and breathing different gases, divers can maximize their bottom time, but when the training ends, the search begins.

Swan documented his dive, sharing the rare footage on his YouTube channel Be Sea Adventures.

“I want to really show scuba diving to the fullest and show what sea creatures are down there and how important they might be to the ecosystems,” Swan said.

“Cloud sponges are a type of glass sponge. While fragile and incredibly vulnerable to things like anchors and prawn traps, they play a key role, filtering nutrients and maintaining the ocean’s balance. These species are an indicator species, so it’s about protecting the ecosystem that they support and the water quality that they support.”

Which is exactly why Swan plans to continue sharing his dives.

“If I can inspire people to get into scuba diving or inspire scientists or people to make better protection efforts, even if it’s just one person, then I think we’re making a difference with Be Sea Adventures,” he added.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Five months after the municipal election, Edmonton’s new city council is settling into their roles.

Major projects are underway, including the $311-million Lewis Farms Recreation Centre. There are conversations about building new fire halls, and moving forward with construction projects.

While the 2025 election is fading into the past, two failed candidates are still vocalizing concerns and what they believe priorities should be for council.

One of them, Jesse Watson, ran and lost the councillor position for Ward Anirniq, currently held by incumbent Erin Rutherford.

Despite the loss, Watson has maintained momentum, raising concerns with council’s decisions on his social media platforms.

He said after the election, people continued to reach out to him asking if he would continue holding council accountable.

“When the city shares public information, as a former city employee there’s always the truth and then there’s the reality, and there’s always stuff missing that I think I can add some nuance to,” Watson said.

Watson has talked about issues all over the city, including LRT safety, issues downtown and in Chinatown, parking, construction and snow clearing.

He said when it comes to the city planning its four year budget, it should consider a different approach to getting community engagement. When it comes to taxes, he said the city needs to reflect differently.

“Even the way surveys are, it’s always a look at increase taxes, decrease services but it’s never a question of, ‘Is this service correct?'”

He said business recruiters from outside of the city are able to draw companies in because the tax rate is better.

“We are suffering from a lack of prosperity,” Watson said. “I think at the end of the day, it’s just a normal debate and conversation and making sure we can achieve a common goal.”

The other former candidate voicing concerns is Omar Mohammad. The dentist ran for mayor and is also vocal about concerns he said he hears from the public.

“Nonstop what I hear about the election and even now is about fiscal responsibility. People really want value for their hard-earned tax dollars spent… Fire halls and recreation centres are important, but not in exuberant amounts,” Mohammad said.

“People really wanted their voices heard, and that doesn’t stop with voting day.”

Both Mohammad and Watson acknowledged council is doing the best they can.

“I believe they mean well, but that is why I believe the conversation is important because the more they can be informed, they can make the better-informed decisions of what Edmontonian want,” Mohammad said.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said he welcomes feedback and wants to hear from Edmontonians as whole.

“I need to hear from all of the voices, that includes (those) who are critical of the decisions we make,” Knack said.

“We cannot be scared of criticism, of people who want to challenge the decisions that we are making.”

The mayor stresses he always seeks this information, and continues to door knock. He also changed how engagement is done ahead of the four-year budget, moving town hall conversations up months prior to the council debate.

“We are about to host 12 in-person budget engagement sessions across the city, I am going to be out across the city with Edmontonian talking about our four-year budget… I want to hear from as many Edmontonians as possible,” Knack said.

This isn’t the first time a group has been critical of council.

Back in the 1990s, a group of young businessmen, who were called “the Stickmen” bought billboards highlighting issues they felt council was missing the mark on.

Political analyst John Brennan said back then, the news would pick it up and messaging would be circulated. He said a lot has changed since then.

“A billboard gets into the public consciousness, and in this case you only have people who are “friends” or followers of Omar Mohammad and Jesse Watson,” Brennan said.

Brennan also brought up PACE, the political party formed ahead of the municipal election and is still active.

He believes continuing to be vocal and critical of council could set up these former candidates for the next election in 2029.

“They’re seeing this as a way to maintain their standing, maintain their name out there and try to do a slow build over three and half years to maintain their name recognition,” Brennan said.

At the end of day, Brennan said being consistently vocal in-between elections is important.

“It’s always a positive thing when people are participating in our democracy.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Two BC Ferries vessels are out of service this Easter long weekend, but one has now been fixed.

The Spirit of Vancouver Island was out of commission due to a generator problem that happened on Tuesday. It had only returned to service on Sunday after a separate breakdown during spring break.

That vessel, which sails between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, will return to service on Friday, BC Ferries announced at 2 p.m. and will provide additional sailings.

The Queen of Surrey was undergoing its scheduled retrofit when issues were found with its steering component. BC Ferries said it is hoping to share more information on Friday about its status.

That vessel sails between Sunshine Coast (Langdale) and Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay).

Meanwhile, the Coastal Celebration vessel is also undergoing its annual retrofit and has been docked at Swartz Bay since March 8.

“With the vessel’s planned refit well underway, it’s not possible to bring it back into service before its scheduled re-entry into service between Tsawwassen – Duke Point at the end of April,” BC Ferries said in a statement on Friday.

“This is exactly why we’ve advocated for a fifth New Major Vessel, which could provide additional relief in moments like this. Without that extra vessel, our ability to absorb disruptions like this is limited.”

Last March, the British Columbia Ferries Commissioner approved four new major vessels for its fleet.

The new vessels will replace the aging Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Cowichan, which are the oldest major ships still in use.

BC Ferries applied for five new diesel-battery hybrid, all-electric-ready ships, but the independent British Columbia Ferries Commissioner approved four.

Typically, there are about 400,000 passengers and 160,000 vehicles that travel on BC Ferries over the Easter long weekend.

The mechanical issue caused by a large tyre in the ocean becoming lodged around the vessel’s propeller on the Chemainus – Telegraph Harbour (Penelakut Island) – Preedy Harbour (Thetis Island) route has also been repaired. The 2:45 p.m. sailing has departed from Chemainus 24 minutes behind schedule, BC Ferries said in an email update.

In addition, potable water aboard the Salish Heron, sailing between Tsawwawwen and the Southern Gulf Islands, will not be available for drinking or food preparation until further notice.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.