I’m sure you’ve heard someone use the phrase “Elvis has left the building” in some kind of humorous or ironic way, or maybe even as some kind of catchphrase. But what does it mean and where did the phrase come from?

Yes, the “Elvis” is Elvis Presley, and the phrase itself dates to December 1956, when Elvis appeared in front of an audience for a radio show called Louisiana Hayride at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport. Elvis did his thing and then left the stage. But the crowd wanted more, and things started getting a little tense. People wouldn’t stop cheering, which made it impossible for the next act to perform.

To calm things down, concert promoter Horace Logan got on the mic and said, “All right, Elvis has left the building. I’ve told you absolutely straight up to this point. You know he has. He has left the building. He left the stage and went out the back with the policemen, and he is now gone from the building.” A portion of that plea is now an evergreen rock’n’roll meme.

How? Because Elvis heard about it and began using the phrase for all his shows.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Back in the days when radio stations played vinyl, the DJ was always switching between records that played at different speeds. One of the most embarrassing things that could happen to you—and I speak from experience here—is to launch a record at the wrong speed, resulting in music that is too slow or too fast. Cringey stuff. But sometimes there are unintended consequences.

In 1978, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, a Southern rock band, released a single called “Imaginary Lover.” A DJ played the song at 45 instead of 33 and didn’t pay attention. The listening audience did, though. To them, it sounded like Stevie Nicks was singing and that this was a brand-new Fleetwood Mac song.

For a while, the song was considered to be a “lost” Stevie Nicks track before everything was sorted out.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Let’s talk about the Imagine Dragons for a second, specifically their name. Where did that come from? This is tricky.

The name is allegedly an anagram, a couple of words scrambled to make sense from another couple of words. Okay, so what words were used to create the name “Imagine Dragons”? The band won’t say. The only clue they’ve ever dropped is that some apostrophes might be required. But then they walked back on that. Using an online anagram machine, we know there are about 107,000 different combinations for the letters in “Imagine Dragons.” Guesses include “Adoring Images,” “A Roaming Design” and “God is in the Manager.”

The band appreciates the effort, but they’re still not saying.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Let’s talk about collecting rare vinyl records.  How much is any given record worth?  It depends on two things. First, demand.  You may have a one-of-a-kind recording, but if no one else cares, it’s not worth anything. The second criterion is the condition of the record.  Collectors use a grading system with “mint condition” as the top grade.  A “mint” record looks like it just came from the store and might even still be sealed or unplayed. Below that is “excellent,” which indicates that the record has been played but is still in great shape.

From there, we have “very good,” which means the record shows signs of being played a number of times but still looks and sounds good.  Then we descend to “good,” “fair,” “poor,” and “bad.”

Who determines the grade of any record?  The seller can try, but it’s the buyer who makes the ultimate call.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Labour Day weekend sales are starting, bringing some of the most anticipated shopping opportunities of the year with steep discounts. Whether you’re looking to refresh your living space with premium furniture or upgrade your daily style and kitchen routine, major retailers like Wayfair, Dyson, lululemon, and more have launched markdowns you can’t miss. We have rounded up today’s absolute best Labour Day deals in Canada to help you score high-quality upgrades for less before these limited-time offers disappear.

Home

If you’re on the hunt for a living room staple, the Ceni sectional from Article is on sale now and features clean lines, sleek track arms and a low-profile silhouette. Plush, fiber-filled cushions and a sturdy wood base make it comfortable and supportive.[/product_listing]

 

This platform bed pairs a softly upholstered headboard with a sturdy steel frame and wooden slats for a supportive foundation. It’s currently 66% off, making it an easy way to refresh the bedroom for less.[/product_listing]

 

Sweet dreams at a discount — The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set Bundle includes two complete sheet sets made from 100% long-staple cotton with a smooth, breathable feel. They feature a 495-thread-count weave, envelope-closure pillowcases and fitted sheets designed for mattresses up to 16 inches deep.[/product_listing]

 

As part of Wayfair’s Labour Day Sale, the Braedin upholstered accent chair comes with a matching ottoman that tucks neatly underneath, making it a smart space-saving choice for smaller rooms. Available in green, khaki or blue velvet, or cream boucle, it’s currently 49% off![/product_listing]

 

 

Beauty & Fashion

 

Score a premium deal with the Softstreme Half-Zip Long in Black, now available for just $79 CAD (regularly $148 CAD) from the lululemon “We Made Too Much” sale. This final sale item features peach-fuzz soft fabric and an oversized fit that transitions from your workout class to the coffee shop.[/product_listing]

For back-to-school, these lightweight slip-ons work just as well as an indoor school shoe as they do for outdoor play, with an easy-to-clean, water-friendly design that can handle whatever the day brings.[/product_listing]

 

Part of Mejuri’s Before We Melt, a clearance collection and initiative where retiring or older styles are sold at a discount instead of being melted down for recycled metal, this delicate bracelet features a single lab-grown sapphire in a sleek bezel setting. The 18k gold vermeil design is currently 40% off, making it a beautiful way to score a timeless piece for less.[/product_listing]

Travel

The BÉIS Medium Luggage Starter Set pairs a spacious carry-on with a medium check-in roller, giving you two versatile sizes for different types of trips. Both feature durable polycarbonate shells and expandable designs for extra packing room when you need it.[/product_listing]

 

BÉIS’s East To West Tote is currently part of the brand’s Labour Day sale, making it an even better time to pick up this roomy, travel-friendly carry-all. It has a 31L capacity, dedicated organizational pockets, a padded laptop compartment and a trolley pass-through, so you can pack plenty without sacrificing organization.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Amazon Echo Dot – $59.99 

Long Box Planter – $179.99

Deluxe Patio Umbrella – $739.00

Outdoor Side Tables – $54.99

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

Nepal held a day of mourning Monday to remember those killed in the Aug. 26 floods, with flags lowered at government offices and families concluding mourning rituals.

Monday was the 13th day since the flooding which killed more than 1,300 people in Nepal and Tibet and left some 5,000 missing, including foreigners, according to Nepal’s disaster management agency.

In predominantly Hindu Nepal, mourning periods last 13 days, during which close family members stay home and relatives visit to pay their respects. Rituals are held on the final day to pray for the souls of the departed.

Several people whose relatives remain missing performed symbolic funerals. Cremation is an important final rite in Hindu tradition, and performing the ceremony even without the bodies of their loved ones provided some families a sense of spiritual release.

The government had declared Monday an official day of mourning and ordered flags at government offices lowered to half-staff.

Meanwhile, search efforts continued for the missing, but some protested that not enough was being done.

In Kathmandu, relatives gathered near the offices of the prime minister and key ministries to demand the government speed up search and rescue efforts for hundreds of people who had been working at hydropower plants and were either swept away by the rushing Bhotekhoshi River or buried under debris.

Sumana Shrestha stood with family members holding a poster with the photo of her 55-year-old husband, who has not been heard from since the day of the flood.

Her husband, a consulting geologist, had promised to return home after his shift at the project office for the Trishuli hydropower plant on the day of the flood. The 2 1/2-story office was completely buried by debris.

“We are here because we have not heard of any rescue attempt on this project, but it has been 13 days already,” she said. “The only thing we have been able to do is pray to God and hope for a miracle.”

Another protester, Mahesh Prasad Shrestha, held a photograph of his brother Niraj Shrestha, a 52-year-old engineer who worked at the same site. He said authorities only sent a small excavator by helicopter on the sixth or seventh day after the disaster, adding: “They should have ordered big helicopters from places like China or India to fly in equipment.”

Candlelight vigils were held in several places in Kathmandu in memory of the people who lost their lives during the flooding.

Rescue efforts have focused on 12 hydropower projects, where about 900 workers are missing and roughly 500 are believed to be trapped in various tunnels, authorities said. Specialized rescue teams from India, China, South Korea and the United States have been searching through debris, damaged structures and tunnels at the projects.

Two Nepalese workers were rescued from the plant Friday, and rescuers pulled out a Chinese man from the facility on Saturday.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

As the United States braces for pivotal midterm elections this November, there’s a new and unexpected issue on voters’ minds in many states: President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada.

“Canada is our friend, our closest ally and our biggest trading partner,” Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins told Politico in an interview published last week.

“This is not China that we are talking about. This is not an adversarial country. And … our economies are so linked, if you try to hurt one you end up hurting Maine.”

Collins has long been a political force in her border state but Trump’s unpopular policies — including his tariff campaign against Canada — have put her seat in jeopardy.

Canada is Maine’s largest trading partner and many of the state’s critical industries, like seafood and lumber, are integrated with Canadian sectors. Collins has acknowledged that the tariffs on Canada are “terrible for Maine” and are making the job of re-election a lot harder.

While Collins’ seat in Maine could be the most vulnerable, it’s not the only one being rattled by Trump’s attacks on Canada as Republicans look to hold power in Congress.

Matthew Lebo, a political-science professor at Western University in London, Ont., said long-term historical trends show that, in general, midterm elections are usually bad for the party of the president in power.

He said while many political observers have been predicting for some time the House will flip to the Democrats, the Senate could also be in play now.

“Some of the key states that have become battleground states are ones with really close trading relationships with Canada,” Lebo said, pointing to Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan and Ohio.

“You’ve got Republican candidates who have to be confronted with trade policies against Canada that are making it harder to export stuff to Canada and are making some things really expensive for people in those states to import.”

The relationship between Canada and the United States was upended by Trump’s return to the White House. Suddenly, Canada found itself the target of tariffs and threats of annexation from a president who sees it less as a close ally and more as an adversary.

While Canadians have been laser-focused on the upheaval, many Americans have been oblivious to the downturn in the relationship. That changed last month when tensions escalated after trade talks between the two countries broke down.

Trump subsequently imposed 50 per cent tariffs on an array of Canadian goods, from hockey sticks and cement to honey. Trump also ramped up his anti-Canada rhetoric and signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

Canada is set to implement its retaliatory duties on Tuesday. Many are aimed at key industries in states where there are competitive midterm races.

Both countries have accused each other of adding last-minute changes to negotiations. Trump’s team has spread out on American news stations in an attempt to place the blame at Ottawa’s feet and to accuse Prime Minister Mark Carney of tanking a deal for domestic political reasons.

Carney, pushing back on those claims, said last week that he doesn’t think “appointed, unelected cabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics.”

It’s not clear whether the Trump administration’s claims about the trade war are breaking through. Both the tariffs and the order to rename Lake Ontario are proving to be very unpopular with Americans.

An Ipsos/Reuters poll published last week suggested two-in-three Americans disapproved of the lake’s name change. It also found only 20 per cent of Americans supported higher tariffs on Canada.

A source with who was not authorized to speak publicly said Republicans from border states approached United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during an event at the White House on Sept. 2. They told Trump’s trade czar to find an off-ramp from the trade war because it was becoming politically toxic, the source said.

Democrats have been quick to jump on the weaknesses the trade war with Canada has exposed. Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said last week “this vanity war is not a war with Canada.”

“It’s a war on Michigan because we have to pay the price,” he said. “And we pay it every single day for goods that should not cost as much as they do.”

Lebo said some Republican candidates are already trying to distance themselves from Trump and his tariffs on Canada.

While New York’s Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul has been vocal in her criticism of the trade war with Canada, her Trump-backed opponent Bruce Blakeman has been harder to pin down.

“I’m not going to talk about federal issues,” Blakeman said when asked by Spectrum News about the trade tensions in late August.

Other Republicans are doubling down. Anthony Constantino, a Republican running for a House seat in New York State, said renaming Lake Ontario was an act of “marketing genius” and claimed “Trump showed strength in negotiations with Canada by playing a card he had available to play.”

Christopher Sands, director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Canadian Studies, said the bigger picture is that the United States economy is in a state of flux, which is causing a lot of uncertainty ahead of the November election.

The war with Iran, rising gas prices and tariffs have affected domestic investment and employment at a time when the top issue on the ballot box is affordability.

Sands said while neither party can expect a “cake walk” in November, Trump has handed Democrats an opening with his attack on Canada.

Democrats have long been looking for something to unite centrist party members with more left-wing factions like the Democratic Socialists of America. Sands said the trade war with Canada could do just that.

“They feel that they can make the case that this is a senseless trade war,” he said.

“I think most Americans don’t even understand why it’s happening.”

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Parts of Cape Breton are being warned of more rain even as residents recover from this weekend’s storm that caused severe flooding and left one woman dead.

Environment Canada issued yellow rainfall warnings early Monday for Sydney Metro and Cape Breton County, and Victoria County.

Between 25 and 40 millimetres of rain are expected, with locally high amounts possible in thunderstorms, the national weather service said.

The rain is expected to last until this afternoon.

“Due to the impacts of the previous storm, it is advised to listen to local officials regarding road and safety conditions,” Environment Canada said.

That storm swept much of the province Saturday, but Cape Breton was hardest hit, with some parts of the island seeing more than 120 mm of rain in a single day. There were even reports of more than 200 mm in Richmond County.

Inverness, Victoria and Richmond counties all declared local states of emergencies Saturday due to severe flooding and widespread damage. All three had been dropped by Monday.

Premier Tim Houston also said Sunday that the province was mourning the loss of a woman who died during the flooding.

Nova Scotia RCMP said Sunday they had located the body of a Cleveland, N.S., woman after she went missing the previous morning. Police said they had found her vehicle parked near her residence on the far side of a flooded bridge. Her death was not believed to be suspicious, RCMP said.

“My thoughts are with her loved ones and everyone who is grieving this tragic loss,” said Premier Tim Houston on X.

Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland also gave her condolences to the family of the woman who died, calling it a “heartbreaking loss.”

“I want her loved ones to know that all Nova Scotians are standing with them,” Masland wrote in a statement.

Masland’s department said she was on the ground in Port Hawkesbury Monday, seeing the damage caused on West Bay Road and speaking with emergency officials.

The minister went on to say that the immediate priority of the government was public safety and every decision was focused on protecting people and allowing emergency responders and crews to do their work safely.

She said local, municipal, provincial and emergency management partners are providing a “unified response.”

Residents are again advised to follow local authorities’ advice, avoid non-essential travel and take care of themselves.

People are asked to check conditions before leaving, follow all road closures and barricades, don’t drive through floodwater, and turn around if they encounter flooding or a damaged road.

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

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz doubled down Monday on pushing through unpopular reforms to Europe’s largest economy after a far-right party surged to a landslide victory in a regional election, with a very good chance of forming the first far-right state government since the Nazi era.

Merz said his center-right Christian Democratic Union was “deeply shocked” by what he called “the most serious election defeat that the CDU has had for years, for decades.” But he indicated that he’s determined to stay at the helm and said that “giving up is not an option for me.”

The anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany, or AfD, fell just short of a majority in Sunday’s vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a small eastern state that gained outsized prominence as AfD eyed power there. Its regional branch is one of several considered a proven right-wing extremist group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.

Merz says Germany will stick to its values and Russia stance

AfD’s victory is a major distraction for Germany and Merz at a time when Europe faces several challenges, including Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, a suspected sabotage campaign targeting NATO countries, and difficult dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Merz said he wanted to assure Germany’s allies that “our institutions are resilient and stable” and the country will stick to its values and constitution after the AfD win. “We know that Germany carries special responsibility because of its history,” he said.

He vowed that he won’t “budge one millimeter from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom against Russia now.” Germany is one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters in its war against Russia.

Because of Germany’s Nazi past, far-right movements have always come under strong scrutiny. Other major parties have refused to cooperate with AfD in a so-called “firewall.” Unlike many countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a far-right or right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government.

Determination to continue reforms ‘unbroken’

Merz vowed to weaken AfD before he came to power last year, but instead has seen the party’s support increase.

The governing coalition of his Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats has developed a reputation for squabbling and become deeply unpopular, as has Merz himself. The government has struggled to persuade voters that it can get the country’s chronically sluggish economy moving, through potentially painful reforms, including to the pension system.

But Merz insisted Monday that “we need fundamental reforms in Germany.” He said it’s a question of “nothing less than the future of our country and the opportunities of our children and grandchildren, and we must not squander those. That is why my determination to continue the reform course is unbroken.”

He acknowledged a need to “justify them, not just rationally but also emotionally.”

Germany faces another two regional elections on Sept. 20 — in Berlin and in another eastern state, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where AfD is also strong.

AfD looks for a path to power in Saxony-Anhalt

While Merz continues to push back against resistance to reforms, AfD — whose victory was cheered by far-right parties across Europe — faces potentially tricky maneuvering to put its candidate for governor in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, in power.

Siegmund had pushed for an absolute majority in the state legislature that would allow AfD to sidestep mainstream parties’ shunning of it. After the vote, he signaled that AfD still isn’t willing to make compromises, insisting that “we don’t want to become like the parties that were punished” by breaking pre-election promises. He also rejected the idea of a minority government.

But he said that it has “a very clear mandate to form the government,” and that his party would reach out to other groups in the legislature and even to individual lawmakers. “Our goal now is to build precisely this stable majority in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

AfD is three seats short of a majority. It could reach out to the hard-left BSW party, which won five seats. The two parties share a Russia-friendly course and oppose immigration but disagree on some other issues.

BSW has criticized the “firewall” against AfD and signaled again Monday that it could allow Siegmund to become governor by abstaining in a potential third round of voting for a new governor in the state legislature, in which a simple majority would suffice.

It’s also possible that newly elected lawmakers from other parties could defect to AfD, which would only need three to break ranks.

Forming a government excluding AfD would only be possible if all the other parties in the legislature worked together. However, an alliance of any kind between those parties is improbable and would be prone to instability.

Jubilation from Musk and right-wing populists

Billionaire Elon Musk congratulated the party on its election victory with a “Well done!” on his online platform X. Siegmund immediately thanked him for his support.

Trump posted a screenshot of the election projection on his Truth Social platform without any comment.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev on X described the outcome of the election as a “historic win for the pragmatic AfD that will put migration under control.” Dmitriev also said that “AfD will restore Germany and Europe by leading the common-sense approach that migrant-friendly, warmongering Biden-think EU politicians tried to eradicate.”

The leaders of right-wing populist parties in Spain and Portugal also congratulated AfD.

The Polish prime minister was critical. “In Poland, only idiots or traitors could rejoice the AfD triumph in Germany,” Donald Tusk wrote on X.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, whose country faces a presidential election next year in which the far right is a leading contender, said that “AfD’s platform is a betrayal of the European spirit” and that “our first responsibility is to resist the normalization of far-right ideas.”

Among voters who didn’t back AfD, the reaction was one of deep dismay. Horst Walter Boerner, an 86-year-old from Magdeburg born during World War II, expressed shock.

“It’s terrible for us,” he said, saying the election was “fear-driven.” He said AfD’s victory was foreseeable because of the crowds it drew during the campaign, but he said “this should have never happened.”

—Associated Press journalists Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw, Poland, and Kerstin Sopke in Magdeburg, Germany, contributed to this report.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

As Canadian students return to the classroom, some have to plan how to deal not just with school work but allergies.

More than 600,000 children under 18 have a food allergy, according to Food Allergy Canada.

That means many enter or return to school having to take precautions to ensure they stay healthy while learning.

Dr. Samira Jeimy, an allergist in London, Ont., said for a child with allergies, entering the classroom can add to an already stressful time.

“That increased stress from the flux and the transition can definitely impact allergic and immunologic disease,” she said. “And then there’s the new or changing exposures that happen in September.”

A food allergy occurs when a person’s immune system, which normally protects from germs and diseases, mistakenly treats a food substance as dangerous. According to Food Allergy Canada, the body then reacts to the food by having an allergic reaction.

When first exposed to the allergen, which is often the protein found in the food, the immune system creates antibodies called immunoglobulin. When the person is exposed again to the protein, antibodies and chemicals such as histamine are released.

Histamine can cause a reaction in a person’s respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system, Health Canada says.

In some cases, the allergy can cause anaphylaxis that starts rapidly and can be fatal. People who are at risk of anaphylaxis are advised to carry an epinephrine device such as an EpiPen, which can treat an allergic reaction.

That’s why Jeimy said as kids go back to school, parents should discuss how to deal with allergies with students and their teachers.

This includes reviewing inhaler usage, which helps with allergic asthma, a condition that can arise during a reaction.

“We always anticipate a lot of asthma exacerbations when school starts,” Jeimy said. “Really knowing when to use your inhaler, how to use the inhaler, when to escalate therapy and when to seek extra help is super important because colds and flus are huge, maybe the number one trigger for asthma exacerbations.”

It’s important to also remind children and teens how to properly use their EpiPen should a reaction occur.

“These life-threatening outcomes are totally preventable if people are educated, the students have the EpiPen on them, they know what symptoms to look out for, it’s administered properly,” said Dr. Allan Grill, chief of family medicine at Markham-Stouffville Hospital.

Most allergic reactions can happen within minutes, but some can take longer. They can also start with mild symptoms but get worse quickly.

The symptoms can involve the heart, lungs, throat, stomach, skin and other parts of the body. They can range from feeling faint or dizzy, a weak pulse, shortness of breath, wheezing, widespread hives, severe itching, severe abdominal pain, or severe swelling of the face or eyes. In some cases, a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis can also cause confusion, agitation and decreased activity.

Grill said people should know the warning signs and parents should remind their children to get back in the habit of safe routines.

“It’s really important to remind your child that has allergies not to share any food or drinks with other students in the class to only be eating and drinking the things that you bring from home,” he said.

Even a small amount of an allergen that makes it onto a fork or knife through cross-contamination can cause an allergic reaction, Food Allergy Canada says, which is why more education is always helpful.

“It is about being familiar with food allergy being a serious medical condition,” said Jennifer Gerdts, executive director of Food Allergy Canada. “What we do know when we hear from the community is when a plan is in place, it’s been discussed, and people are aware of the food allergy, the kids feel confident.”

—with files from Global News’ Katherine Ward

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