When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life across the world, social isolation became a very clear and real issue.

As countries began to ease restrictions and life started to return to normal, Mark Vella realized southern Alberta could do with a men’s group to help bring camaraderie and friendship to those who otherwise didn’t have it.

So, he started a local chapter of Men’s Sheds about two-and-a-half years ago with just a few other guys.

“Our first project was (a take one, leave one library box), now here we are restoring motorcycles, building lots of things for the community,” said Vella, who is now the executive director.

The group has expanded 10-fold since that little library box was installed in the yard of a daycare.

Boasting 50 members, Men’s Sheds is giving men in southern Alberta a place to bond.

“Men’s Sheds provides that safe space where we get to talk about men’s health and wellness, where we actually get to do something about that. A lot of that is framed in recreational therapy, the project-driven work that we do,” said Vella.

According to Vella, his branch is one of the largest in the country.

“It’s been life-changing for me,” said Steele Tolman, a recent member.

Tolman says he has long admired Men’s Sheds, but didn’t realize there was a local chapter until a few months ago, when he decided to join.

“I mean, the connections I’ve made, it’s woken up passions that I had given up on, like my wood carvings,” said Tolman.

Working alone most days, he says isolation has been a serious point of negativity in his life, but Men’s Sheds has quite literally spun things around for him.

“The biggest thing is just being part of the community. I’ve made connections with people I can’t imagine I’d have ever even talked to if it wasn’t in a situation like this and those have formed into strong friendships now that, well I never expected that part of it.”

One big aspect of Men’s Sheds is breaking down the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, which members say has made a big difference for them, too.

“Men’s mental health is a really big issue. It’s one of the things we’re getting more involved with,” said Tom Hovan, secretary for the group.

He says terrible news struck his family earlier this year, but his friends at Men’s Sheds were there every step of the way.

“In February, my wife was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The support I had from the group was, ‘Hey Tom, how’s it going? How’s Sharon?’. When we got the final diagnosis of all clear, they’ve got it all, they couldn’t find anything, it was, ‘Hey, that’s great.’ It was just good support.”

With cancer affecting so many people, including members like Hovan, Vella decided to show his support in the best way he could.

“Three years into (growing my hair out), it’s time to cut the locks and do something meaningful, impactful,” said Vella.

Next month, he’ll be donating his hair to cancer victims.

However, he wanted to use his platform at Men’s Sheds to go further.

Vella launched a GoFundMe to raise funds for at home stool kits to help members of Men’s Sheds, or just members of the community, discretely and privately monitor their health at home.

“There’s definitely a financial barrier and this is a topic that touches me personally with my own family as bowel cancer and prostate cancer have shown up the past couple of years.”

The campaign has a goal of $5,000 and will continue to accept donations until the end of August.

 

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

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Whether it’s overflowing closets, crowded kitchen cupboards or an entryway that’s become a catch-all for shoes and bags, clutter has a way of taking over every corner of the home. Thankfully, a few smart storage upgrades can make a surprisingly big difference—without requiring a full renovation. Think slim velvet hangers that instantly create more closet room, wall-mounted organizers that reclaim unused space and furniture that pulls double duty. Ahead, 15 clever space-saving finds from Utopia, Pottery Barn and Canadian-made brand Veradek that help maximize every square foot and make your home feel instantly more organized.

 

The closet game-changer

Bulky plastic hangers take up more room than you think. These slim velvet hangers instantly create extra hanging space while helping keep clothes from slipping onto the floor. Shoulder notches keep camisoles and dresses securely in place, while the swivel hook makes grabbing outfits a breeze.[/product_listing]

 

The pantry organizer

A tidy pantry starts with matching containers. These square glass jars fit neatly side by side, making better use of shelves than traditional round canisters. Airtight bamboo lids help keep pasta, rice, cereal and other pantry staples fresh while the clear glass lets you see exactly when it’s time to restock.[/product_listing]

 

The bathroom organizer

One of the most underused spots in the bathroom sits right above the toilet. This shelving unit instantly adds vertical storage for towels, toiletries, baskets and decorative accents without taking up additional floor space–perfect for bathrooms where every inch counts.[/product_listing]

 

The entryway upgrade

Short on hallway space? This slim shoe cabinet stores up to 12 pairs without taking over your entryway. Hidden flip drawers keep shoes out of sight, while the tabletop offers a handy landing spot for keys, mail and everyday essentials.[/product_listing]

 

The wall-space maximizer

When floor space is limited, look up. These floating shelves transform empty walls into practical storage for everything from books and plants to bathroom essentials and decorative pieces. Use the six shelves together or spread them throughout your home wherever you need a little extra storage.[/product_listing]

 

The hidden storage bed

Your bed takes up the biggest footprint in the bedroom–so why not have it work a little harder? This upholstered bed frame lifts to reveal a roomy hidden storage compartment that’s perfect for spare bedding, out-of-season clothing, shoes or luggage. The gas-lift mechanism makes accessing everything inside surprisingly effortless, while the wingback headboard gives it a polished, designer-inspired look.[/product_listing]

 

The multitasking patio table

Outdoor furniture should work harder, too. Designed and made in Canada, this sleek side table doubles as a hidden cooler that holds up to 48 cans with ice. It keeps drinks close at hand while eliminating the need for a bulky standalone cooler on smaller patios or balconies.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Over the Door Shoe Organizer – $15.47

Utility Rolling Cart – $49.97

Large Stackable Drawer Organizer – $79.99

 

The hidden storage hero

Don’t let valuable under-bed space go to waste. This woven rattan storage bin is perfect for storing off-season clothing, spare bedding or anything you don’t need every day. A fitted lid helps keep dust out, while cutout handles make it easy to slide in and out.[/product_listing]

 

The entertaining essential

Ideal for smaller dining rooms, this clever table expands from a compact round shape into a spacious oval that comfortably seats up to eight guests. Better yet, the pedestal base hides two generous storage compartments for table linens, serving dishes, board games or everyday essentials, helping keep clutter out of sight.[/product_listing]

 

The stylish storage seat

Extra seating, a footrest and hidden storage all in one? That’s a win in any room. Lift the cushioned top to stash throw blankets, books, toys or remotes, keeping everyday clutter tucked neatly out of sight while adding a cozy finishing touch to your space.[/product_listing]

 

The fold-flat storage bag

Bulky comforters, spare pillows and seasonal bedding don’t need to take over your closet. This oversized cotton canvas storage bag neatly corrals larger items, while sturdy carrying handles make it easy to move from the closet to under the bed or into the attic. When it’s not in use, it folds flat for compact storage.[/product_listing]

 

The laundry room helper

A good laundry basket does more than hold dirty clothes. This spacious hamper keeps laundry contained without taking up unnecessary floor space, and its lightweight design makes carrying full loads to the washing machine much easier. It’s a simple upgrade that helps bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry rooms stay looking tidier.[/product_listing]

 

The seasonal storage solution

Bulky comforters, winter jackets and extra pillows can quickly overwhelm closets. These vacuum storage bags compress soft items into a fraction of their original size, freeing up shelves and under-bed storage. The included electric pump makes the process quick and effortless.[/product_listing]

 

 

The fold-away laundry helper

Traditional drying racks can monopolize valuable floor space. This wall-mounted version folds flat against the wall when not in use, then easily expands to dry clothing whenever needed. It’s an ideal solution for condos, apartments and compact laundry rooms.[/product_listing]

 

The cabinet space saver

Put the underside of your cabinets to work. This rotating hook rack hangs mugs, utensils, towels or measuring cups without drilling into your cabinetry, helping free up crowded drawers and countertops.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Pants Hangers – $21.99

StorageWorks Closet Storage Bins – $33.99

Simple Houseware Pantry Bins – $42.87

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

Wildfires have forced thousands of British Columbians from their homes and hundreds of homes have been lost to fire this season.

North Okanagan resident Rejane Simpson was at work on Saturday when one of her co-workers said there was a lot of smoke near her home.

However, a friend told her the fire was being held nearby, so she wasn’t too concerned.

On Saturday, the Bradley Creek wildfire, burning west of Vernon, grew rapidly when wind gusts reached more than 70 km/h and the firefighters, airtankers and skimmers were unable to hold the fire.

Officials estimate that 230 homes or structures may have been lost to the Bradley Creek wildfire.

“I never got an evacuation order,” Simpson told Global News.

“But after work, I hurried home. And when I got to West Side Road, the police had it blocked off. And they weren’t going to let me in.”

Simpson said she told them her house was just up the hill and her animals were there.

So she was allowed to go in, grab her animals and as much as she could in 30 minutes and then she had to flee.

“But my God, it was just all so fast,” Simpson said, holding back tears.

“It just, it’s so dry. And it just wiped everything out.”

Simpson said she and her pets are safe and she’s staying with friends.

“I guess the silver lining in all this is I didn’t realize how blessed I was with how many people care about me and how many have stepped forward to tell me that any help I need they’re more than willing to help,” she added.

Friends have also set up a GoFundMe so that Simpson can get back on her feet.

But she says this situation is hard to prepare for.

“Just be prepared as much as you can and just know that it doesn’t matter how much you try and prepare for it, when the time happens, you’ll still panic,” she said.

“You’ve got to keep telling yourself, just calm down and just do things logically and just try and have things ready. That’s all I can say.”

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

Ottawa Fire Services pulled out all the stops Tuesday to rescue a bird that was trapped in fishing line in a tree.

First responders received a call from a “concerned citizen” around 2 p.m. after the person came across the tangled bird in the 900 block of Vances Side Road in Dunrobin.

Responders swiftly identified the bird as a belted kingfisher and confirmed it was tangled in fishing line in a tree overhanging the water.

Crews deployed a rescue craft into the water and used a pole saw to lower parts of the tree before cutting the fishing line and freeing the bird.

“Our Water Rescue Technicians wrapped the bird in a blanket, placed it in a box and handed it over to the concerned citizen who made the call,” Ottawa Fire Services said in a social media post, adding the citizen had arranged to take the bird to a wildlife care centre for assessment.

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

After standing by his side during many of this summer’s FIFA World Cup games, Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has lost all confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The prime minister’s comments add to growing calls for Infantino’s resignation following an abandoned plan to sell off commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors.

“I don’t have confidence in Mr. Infantino after this point, given what transpired and given the nature of what transpired,” Carney said.

The prime minister said Infantino made a “fatal” mistake when he failed to consult top FIFA officials on his plan to create a $20 billion company to run the World Cup.

That company, he proposed, would include private investors like the Kushner family, a prominent American real estate and political dynasty with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“This is not how you run any business, a small business, let alone something that is a global responsibility like football,” Carney said.

The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), as the plan was called, drew immense backlash from soccer federations worldwide. UEFA’s 55 member associations agreed to boycott the World Cup altogether if the plan moved forward.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation also opposed the plan.

“I do not believe he, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last Sunday.

In crisis mode to save his job, multiple reports state Infantino offered Morocco the opportunity to host the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for the support of its soccer association.

FIFA denied the claim, stating that it’s “false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course.”

Though abandoned, top FIFA officials Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström distanced themselves from the shareholder plan Tuesday. Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned last week and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said staff were “deceived” by the president’s lack of openness.

Now, FIFA says it has “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino’s presidency.

In a statement, FIFA said Secretary General Grafström and members of the management board had given their support to the embattled president.

Referring to the FFE, the statement said “mistakes made were acknowledged” and that the “process should have been handled differently.”

FIFA said a letter had been sent to the FIFA Council and member associations apologizing for errors and committing to “ensure they do not happen again.”

But support for Infantino’s leadership has also dwindled because of other concerns, including his close relationship with President Trump.

The day before the U.S. was set to face off against Belgium, FIFA lifted the suspension of an American player after receiving a call from Trump.

The Belgian soccer federation said it was “astonished” by the news and appealed the decision. That appeal was dismissed just hours before kickoff.

UEFA criticized FIFA for an “incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision” and warned that “the integrity of the game is at stake.”

Canada Soccer issued a statement on Wednesday saying it remains aligned with both CONCACAF’s stance and Carney’s comments, and will review the matter at its board meeting next week before determining next steps.

Infantino is still aiming to win a fourth and final term in office at the March elections.

If the current president were to leave, Canadian Victor Montagliani, the current head of CONCACAF, is a front-runner to replace him.

Asked on Wednesday whether he would support Montagliani taking over as FIFA president, Carney noted that the decision will be made by world soccer’s governing body, not international politicians.

The prime minister added that he has “tremendous respect” for the former president of Canada Soccer.

“He’s an exceptional individual; he’s a credit to Canada, credit to football,” Carney said. “He’s done a very good job in his role at CONCACAF … Loves the game. Loves the game.”

—with files from The Canadian Press and Associated Press

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

What was meant to be a one-day visit with friends in the Lac La Biche region turned into an overnight ordeal for an Alberta family of six, when a powerful storm brought down trees and blocked their escape route.

Shaylie Lamoureux, her husband and their four kids were visiting a friend’s cabin at Seibert Lake in the Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Knowing bad weather was expected to hit around 11 p.m., the family got off the lake and had a quick dinner, before packing up to leave and beat the bad weather.

“We could see there was an impending storm coming so we were trying to race,” Lamoureux said. “We knew we were on a timeline.”

They left the cabin around 8 p.m. to make the slow, 22-km drive along the backwoods trail, but stormy weather started earlier than expected.

By 9:20 p.m., Lamoureux said it felt like they were navigating through a hurricane.

“There was debris flying everywhere and we were just racing to get to a clearing,” Lamoureux said. “It’s kind of something you see in the movies and you don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you, but things escalated so quickly.”

But before they could get out, the storm intensified and visibility dropped to near-zero.

“We couldn’t make it though. We couldn’t see anything. We were hopeful we were on the road still.

“We just got hit with waves and walls of hail and trees.”

The family found a clearing away to wait out the storm, which lasted for hours. It toppled dozens of trees — including several that fell across the road the family was travelling on, leaving them stranded.

After the storm passed, Lamoureux and her family tried to clear a path themselves.

“We need our chainsaw. We have to get out of this,” she said.

“Suddenly, as we started cutting our way out, we knew we weren’t going to make it out of this,” she said, explaining whenever they took a break from using their chainsaw, all they could hear was more trees falling around them.

Despite spotty cellphone service, Lamoureux was eventually able to contact her friend Natasha Chapdelaine, who lives nearby.

Chapdelaine and her family headed to the area and discovered other campers were also trapped by fallen trees.

“It was hard to believe the magnitude of the storm that hit that area,” Chapdelaine said.

“Everything closer to where Shaylie and her family her stuck was the worst of the storm.”

Hours later, they returned with equipment in an attempt to clear the route, but were unable to reach those stranded before nightfall.

“It was defeating for us that we couldn’t get to them at night,” Chapdelaine said, explaining about 20 km of trail had to be cleaned up.

“There’s been lots of safety concerns with this road. The narrowness of it. Difficult for vehicles to pass in the winter. There’s always fallen trees. There’s very little cellphone service.”

Chapdelaine said both women called 911 around 2 a.m. Sunday and expected help would arrive sooner.

“By morning, when I touched base with her at 7:30 a.m., no one had got there. They were still stranded,” Chapdelaine said of her friends.

Lamoureux said emergency crews did not reach her family until about 11:30 a.m.

“We spent 15 hours on the trail overnight.”

Both women are questioning why emergency alerts were not issued and why it took so long for help to arrive.

“We definitely felt like they didn’t take our call seriously,” Chapdelaine said. “There could have been people hurt at the campsite. There was no cellphone service and there was no way to know.

“So, the fact that they didn’t treat it like an imminent emergency was a bit disappointing.”

Early findings from the Northern Tornadoes Project suggest the storm damage was caused by straight-line winds from one or two downbursts, rather than a tornado.

Researchers continue to investigate damage reports around Siebert Lake, as well as Garner Lake, Floatingstone Lake and Pinehurst Lake.

It remains unclear which authority was responsible for the road where the family became trapped.

The Municipal District of Bonnyville said it does not own or operate the affected road and campground. However Alberta Parks says the majority of Seibert Lake Road is administered and maintained by the municipality.

In a statement, the municipality said it became involved when the situation developed into a public safety concern and dispatched available municipal resources.

Alberta Forestry and Parks said it sent a park ranger, two eight-person forestry crews and an extra four-person forestry crew to help the municipality clear the road and restore access.

The exit access was successfully restored by 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, however Alberta Parks said other roads are still affected.

“The access road for the campground remains closed, and anyone planning to stay at Seibert Lake Campground should make alternate plans until the road is reopened to the public by the MD of Bonnyville,” the province said.

Despite her concerns about the delay, Lamoureux said her family was fortunate to escape without serious injuries. She said the experience has convinced her to be better prepared for emergencies in the future, including carrying emergency supplies when travelling.

“We were lucky we made it through,” she said.

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

A wildfire broke out in Port Moody, B.C., on Wednesday afternoon.

The Coastal Fire Centre says the fire is burning in Belcarra Park and is an estimated 0.8 hectares in size. It is considered out of control.

The fire centre says there are initial attack crews with aerial support working on this fire and they are also working with the local fire department.

At this time, there is no immediate threat to nearby structures, critical infrastructure, or public safety, officials say.

The fire is creating some white smoke that can be seen from surrounding communities.

The cause remains under investigation, but it is suspected to be human-caused.

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

While the question about Alberta’s future place in Canada has dominated discussions about the province’s October referendum so far, there are another nine questions on the ballot that so far have been subject to little public debate.

They were announced two months before Premier Danielle Smith said a 10th question on separatism was being added.

Five of the nine questions deal with issues of immigration reform — including whether the province should have increased control over immigration and whether it should be able to withhold health care, education and other social services from people who aren’t Canadian citizens, permanent residents or who have an “Alberta-approved immigration status.”

The other four questions deal with Constitution changes: giving the province more control over the appointment of judges, abolishing the Senate, giving provinces the ability to opt-out of federal programs on health care, education and social services, and changing the Canadian Constitution to give provincial laws priority in areas of shared jurisdiction with Ottawa.

To Edmonton lawyer Avnish Nanda, who helped create the pro-immigration group “Our Alberta Advantage,” the questions about immigration are “harmful, racist” and “unnecessary.”

“As they dig deeper into the questions and the ramifications, (it’s) just confusion. We don’t need this,” said Nanda, who added that his organization is “pushing back against this anti-immigrant, anti-Canadian narrative that this government is peddling through this referendum initiative.”

“As more people learn about it, they become angry over the amount of money being spent on this unnecessarily.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended the questions aimed at immigration reform by saying “not every newcomer is a net contributor” to provincial coffers.

According to Statistics Canada, Alberta’s population surged by 202,324 residents in 2023. That’s the largest annual increase in the province’s history, the equivalent of 550 people moving to Alberta every day.

While the bulk of the growth came from international migration, Alberta also shattered a national record for interprovincial migration, most of which came from Ontario and B.C.

In 2022-23, the province ran a $4.95 million “Alberta is Calling” campaign aimed at attracting skilled workers to the province from other parts of the country.

The province’s population growth peaked in the third quarter of 2023 and dropped off significantly in 2024 and 2025, according to the most recent Statistics Canada data.

Smith blames the former Justin Trudeau Liberal government for Alberta’s population woes, saying that over five years, almost 600,000 people moved to Alberta, pushing the population over five million people.

Despite the number of immigrants to Alberta slowing recently to just a fraction of what is was a few years ago, Smith has also blamed immigrants for putting a strain on provincial resources.

Brendan Boyd, associate professor of political science at MacEwen University in Edmonton, said while the provincial government may have been hoping for Albertans to have a fulsome debate about all the issues on the referendum ballot — so far that doesn’t seem to be happening.

“If you look at some of the polling over the last couple of months, I don’t know that any of these things are sort of top of mind for Albertans,” Boyd said.

“It tends to be affordability. It tend to be concerns about health care and the economy and none of those things are really on the ballot in this referendum.”

With the question about Alberta’s place in Canada dominating the debate so far, Boyd said he wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people answer one question, then move on.

“I could see that definitely happening where these other questions don’t get as good of a turnout or good responses on those — (it) totally wouldn’t surprise me,” Boyd added.

“I guess that’s one of the things I would say is why that sort of direct democracy in these referendums maybe aren’t the best forum to discuss these things. It sort of assumes that it’s going to spark this great, fulsome and useful debate that we have and sort of start the process of deliberative democracy. But as we’ve kind of seen, that’s not happening.”

Asked by Global News about what the province is doing to ensure a debate on the questions does take place, a spokesperson in the office of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith provided an emailed statement that says:

“Alberta’s government will use various channels to communicate with Albertans on the implications of the fall referendum questions including online, TV, radio, and social media. The Premier also travels across Alberta every summer and will continue speaking directly with Albertans through town halls, public events, media interviews and more.”

The statement also encouraged Albertans to visit the website albertareferendum2026.ca where the 10 ballot questions and information on these issues is posted.”

The referendum takes place on Oct. 19.

Voters will be provided with a stack of colour-coded ballots, one for each question, and will be free to mark an X on as many ballots as they want, or leave them blank.

Elections Alberta said a total of 38 million ballots will be printed.

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

Calgarians will gather Wednesday evening to honour Parker, the little boy who touched so many, including thousands he’d never met.

Parker is the 11-year-old neurodivergent boy who walked away from his Calgary dayhome on July 16th, prompting an Alberta Amber Alert and a massive search involving hundreds of police, search and rescue experts and thousands of ordinary Calgarians.

His body was found deep inside a pipe system under Deerfoot Trail, 13 days after he vanished.

Thursday’s vigil, which is being held at Calgary’s municipal plaza, outside city hall, is taking place one week after the little boy’s body was found.

It begins at 7 p.m. and those in attendance will have the opportunity to write messages, or share memories,  that will be delivered to Parker’s family.

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

A Kitchener, Ont., man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a hacking attack on a U.S.-based cloud services company that compromised more than 165 organizations, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday.

The department said in news release that the 26-year-old conspired with other hackers and stole sensitive information online from the U.S.-based software service, then extorted victims by demanding ransom payments.

The department said he entered a guilty plea Wednesday on four counts of his indictment, including computer and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He’s scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 27 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the remaining counts, the department said.

The department said he and others involved in the “widespread computer hacking conspiracy” stole billions of “sensitive customer records” and advertised the breached data for sale on cybercrime forums. The Department of Justice did not name any of the companies involved.

According to the indictment filed in court, the Kitchener man and his co-conspirators extorted funds paid out in cryptocurrency worth approximately $2.5 million at the time.

Companies involved in the incident included major U.S.-based telecommunications, retail and health care firms, the indictment said.

The department said the Canadian man used the data obtained through the security breach to extort — and in at least in one case “re-extort” — victims of the conspiracy.

The accused himself obtained at least $495,000, the Department of Justice release said. It said companies that were targeted lost more than $9.5 million, a figure that does not include any losses incurred by their customers.

The department said the Kitchener man was arrested and extradited from Canada last year following an FBI investigation that received international assistance from police in Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain and Australia.

DOJ records on the case said he surrendered himself for extradition in March of last year and initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.

© 2026 The Canadian Press