The evenings are quite long now, which makes sitting outside, listening to tunes, all the nicer. Perhaps something on this week’s New Music Friday list that will make things even better.

Singles

1. Almost Monday, No More Regrets (Hollywood Records)

San Diego quartet Almost Monday has been rising through the ranks this year with four non-album singles that are obviously building toward a fourth album (release date and title still TBA). If you’re in Toronto, you’ll have a chance to see them on June 22 with Young the Giant and Cold War Kids.

2. Billy Idol, John Wayne (Dark Horse/BMG)

This is the latest single from Billy’s 2025 album, Dream Into It. That’s Alison Mosshart from The Kills/The Dead Weather helping him out on this one. The first time the two collaborated on this track in 2023 when Billy played that weird (but cool) show at the Hoover Dam.

3. Jane’s Party, Rest of Our Lives (JP Productions)

I’ve been following Jane’s Party (est. London, Ontario) for years, hoping that they’d finally break through to a wider audience. They might do it with this one, a double single (the other track is entitled Relic) that was originally written for Can-Am, the off-road vehicle company. That description alone should give you an idea what things sound like. The group is also continuing an important partnership with Community Music Schools of Toronto.

4. Mastodon, Your Ghost Again (Loma Visa/Concord)

If you guessed that this song has something to do with the death of ex-member Brent Hinds in a motorcycle crash, you’d be correct. The track was written and recorded during the time the band was grieving Brent along with the passing of drummer Brann Dailor’s mother.

5. Pussy Riot, Candy Dopamine ft. Avenged Sevenfold (Independent)

Pussy Riot is probably the world’s most fearless punk band as they continue to spit on Vladimir Putin despite the constant threat exile, imprisonment, and of course, defenestration, a Putin favourite. You do NOT mess with leader Nadya Tolokonnikova. A new album entitled CYKA will be here on June 12. Big Pharma is on notice with this track.

6. Prince, Stone (Legacy Recordings)

It is said that Prince left behind so much music that there’s enough for a new album a year for the next century. Another compilation of previously unreleased songs entitled Timeless will be here August 28. It will be the first archival release sing 2021’s Welcome 2 America. Most of the music dates back to some sessions in the spring of 2010.

7. Weezer + Wednesday, We Might As Well be Strangers (Universal)

What was Weezer teasing on social media this week? A new record that will be forever known as the “gold” album. It comes with a very Led Zeppelin-esque featuring four mysterious symbols, one for each member of the band. Weezer’s 20th (!!!) album will be out August 21. And beware: The mystery/backstory around this album isn’t over yet.

Albums

1. Death Cab for Cutie, I Built You a Tower (ANTI-Epitaph)

The band’s 11th album arrived today (their first after 22 years with Atlantic Records) and comes with a new single that’s “about trying to convince everyone around you and most importantly, yourself, that you are okay when you definitely are not.” Then again, all DCfC albums are full of these kinds of feels, aren’t they?

2. Evanescence, Sanctuary (BMG Rights Management)

Amy Lee will not be rushed. This is just the sixth Evanescence album in 23 years. Things started taking shape during an Australian tour in 2023 when she and the band were despondent over what Donald Trump was doing to the United States. A lot of rage got channeled into these songs.

3. Modest Mouse, An Eraser and a Maze (Glacial Pace Recordings/Virgin Music Group)

What was supposed to be an Isaac Brock solo album turned into a full-fledged Modest Mouse record, making it their first release in five years and eighth overall. The record was made at Leon Russell’s legendary Church Studio in Tulsa. It’s also the first MM album since founding drummer Jeremiah Green died in 2022. His spot has been taken by newcomer Damon Coax while Simon O’Connor (guitarist) and Keith Karman (keyboards) have also joined up.

 

 

 

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

We hear plenty of stories about hackers getting into computer systems and devices—viruses, man-in-the-middle attacks, DDos storms, malware, ransomware and the like. But would you believe the first electronic hack happened in 1903? Guglielmo Marconi, the father of modern radio, had come up with the concept of point-to-point wireless radio transmissions.

“By tuning a transmitter to a specific frequency,” he said, “you can securely reach another party who has tuned to exactly the same frequency.”

This greatly annoyed telegraph companies, who didn’t want to be put out of business. One of these telegraph operators, a guy named Nevil Maskelyne, heard about a demonstration Marconi was giving. Using his own transmitter, he hacked into Marconi’s test broadcast, spelling out the word “rats” over and over in Morse code. Then he keyed in a rude limerick that began “There was a young fellow from Italy, who diddled the public quite prettily.”

I guess this makes Maskelyne the first-ever black hat hacker.

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

There are new questions about what happened just moments before a massive fire destroyed a long-term care home under construction on Penticton, B.C.’s Green Avenue last week.

While the cause is being investigated, Global News has obtained photos of a person on the construction site just minutes before flames erupted and the fire department was called.

One photo shows the person approaching the frame of a window while another picture appears to show the person jumping out of it.

Sources tell Global News that RCMP were called to the site for a possible trespassing complaint with the responding officer noticing flames soon after arriving.

RCMP have not yet confirmed the trespassing call.

According to the City of Kelowna, RCMP have now taken over the investigation.

“The fire department is working in collaboration with the RCMP, but the RCMP is now in charge of the investigation from here on out,” said Kristen Dixon, general manager of infrastructure and deputy city manager for the City of Penticton.

Late Wednesday, the city rescinded its local state of emergency and evacuation order for 10 properties.

“I came down right away,” said Brenda van Ingen, one of the evacuees. “So relieved.”

The fire destroyed one home, while several others sustained some fire and smoke damage.

It also scorched part of a crane on the site, potentially compromising its structural integrity, which prompted a handful of homes in its vicinity to be evacuated.

“It was difficult to get the inspection completed for the crane but the engineer was able to do that inspection and complete it yesterday and confirmed that it is stable, to allow the area to be deemed safe to return,” Dixon said.

Van Ingen’s home is one of the properties deemed to be at risk if the crane fell.

She’s feeling grateful not only to have returned home but to one that’s still standing.

“Thank goodness. It could have been so much worse,” van Ingen said.

The fire department said flying embers caused six additional fires in the neighbourhood, one of them in the cedar hedge between her house and the neighbouring property.

“Apparently it was in full flame and obviously the firemen got in here, otherwise Norm’s house would have been gone, my shed and it would have probably been my house too,” she said.

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

A proposed housing development in North Vancouver has been rejected for its size and its parking plan.

Seymour River Place in the Maplewood Village neighbourhood would bring 40 apartments to the area, including seven below-market rental units.

However, district staff say the project exceeds current planning policies.

The site is zoned for four storeys, but the proposal calls for six storeys and the developer is also proposing 26 parking stalls, which is well below the 74 spaces required under existing bylaws.

The district says that could cause congestion on neighbouring streets as people struggle to find parking spots.

“Even though the marketing of the project says if you don’t have a car you probably shouldn’t come and live here, what we’ve found in the past is they’re just going to put their cars throughout the neighbourhood rather than pay a high monthly rate to park their car in the area,” Mike Little, District of North Vancouver mayor, said.

The developer says that requiring more parking would drive up the cost of the units by at least $50,000.

“At a time when we’re talking about the need for more affordable housing, we should not be encouraging people to buy cars and buy parking spaces,” Michael Geller, a Seymour River Place planning consultant, said.

“Especially when you do have excellent public transit.”

The developer is now revising its proposal and considering a full transportation study, which could reduce the parking requirement from 74 stalls to 36.

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

The Water Security Agency is set to release water from Lake Diefenbaker into the South Saskatchewan River, raising Saskatoon’s water level by 0.6 meters.

This is forcing some groups like the Saskatoon Racing Canoe Club to make some changes with the high, fast-moving water.

“We have schools that come down and do dragon boating, so we’ve had to cancel those. And then for our athletes who train twice a day… it will be a challenge. We’ll have to go elsewhere, maybe to some pond in Stonebridge or maybe out Pike Lake to continue training,” said Rob Sleeth, Saskatoon Racing Canoe Club coach.

The water is coming from Alberta, thanks to a record snowpack, with over three meters in some areas — some of the highest crews have ever recorded.

That snow melted rapidly last week, with over 100 mm of rain in just a few days. Now, it’s making its way here.

“We’re getting to levels that were seen in 2013 and 2011. Those two stand out very much,” said John Pomeroy, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and director of Global Water Futures Observatories.

He says we haven’t seen water levels this high in over a decade, and while flooding is unlikely, it can be dangerous.

“The river’s going to be flowing much more quickly than recent experience has lent us and so it’s dangerous. The banks are dangerous, the banks can erode, the river water is cold and it’s very, very fast,” Pomeroy said.

“And so, I think important people do not swim in the river. And if they’re canoeing or kayaking on it, be very, very careful and stay away from the weir as always.”

Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Fire Department is saying people and pets need to stay out of the water.

But with high levels presenting challenges, it also has some benefits.

“This brings the river closer back to its natural system. It should flush and move some of the sand to the system that we see in Saskatoon,”‘ said Pomeroy.

Less sand deposits and a washout of silt is what the Prairie Lily needs to get back sailing.

“It keeps the river entirely navigable and safe for everybody. So, I’m looking forward to the river turning itself back into what it used to be,” said Mike Steckhan, senior captain of Prairie River Cruises.

Watch the video above for more on the impacts of the high-water levels.

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

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Temperatures are rising, but don’t worry—we’ve got the fans to keep you cool and comfortable at home this summer. From compact desktop models to powerful tower and pedestal fans, this 2026 guide highlights the best cooling options for every space and budget, featuring brands like Dyson, Honeywell, Dreo, and more. Whether you’re prioritizing quiet operation, strong airflow, or smart features, these picks break down what truly matters when choosing the right fan for your needs.

Quick pick summary

Best cooling tower fan: Shark TurboBlade Tower Fan – $589.37 

Best budget cooling tower fan: Honeywell HYF290B Quietset 8-Speed Whole-Room Tower Fan – $193.40

Best desktop fan: Amazon Basics Air Circulator Fan – $27.55 

Best quiet / sleep tower fan: Dreo Nomad One – $129.99

Best premium tower fan: Dyson AM07 White – $399.99

Best cooling pedestal fan: DREO Smart Fan – $116.90

 

Best cooling tower fan

The Shark TurboBlade fan is a highly customizable bladeless tower fan that has strong, wide-reaching airflow and multiple speed and noise settings for different comfort levels. Its powerful circulation and flexible design can cool larger spaces effectively, though its premium price means it’s more of a high-end cooling option than a budget pick.[/product_listing]

 

Best budget cooling tower fan

This tower fan from Honeywell is a popular budget-friendly cooling fan known for its strong airflow, quiet operation, and multiple speed settings for different comfort levels. It’s a solid choice for bedrooms or small-to-medium rooms due to it’s useful features like oscillation, a remote control, and a sleep timer at an affordable price.[/product_listing]

 

Best desktop fan

Compact and lightweight, this air circulator fan from Amazon Basics features a 90-degree adjustable tilt that makes it easy to direct airflow exactly where you need it. With three speed settings and an energy-efficient 35-watt motor, it provides effective cooling for bedrooms, offices, and small living spaces.[/product_listing]

 

Best Quiet / Sleep Tower Fan

The DREO tower fan’s 90° oscillating angle helps spread airflow widely across the room, so it cools more evenly instead of blasting one spot. It’s also designed to stay extremely quiet, making it a great choice for bedrooms where you want steady airflow without distracting noise.[/product_listing]

 

Best Premium Tower Fan

This Dyson bladeless tower fan has technology that creates smooth, uninterrupted airflow for fast cooling in indoor spaces. It features oscillation, a sleep timer, and a magnetic remote control, making it a premium, modern option for quiet and efficient room cooling. Its premium feel comes from its minimalist bladeless design, strong build quality, and consistent, engineered airflow performance that prioritizes both safety and aesthetics.[/product_listing]

 

Best cooling pedestal fan

The DREO Smart Fan has powerful whole-room cooling with 120° + 120° omni-directional oscillation, 9 speeds, and 6 modes that adapt airflow while spreading air evenly throughout the space. With quiet performance and smart Wi-Fi or voice control, it keeps bedrooms and living spaces consistently cool, and unlike typical pedestal fans that only oscillate in one direction, it adds dual-direction movement and intelligent automation for a more precise and hands-free cooling experience.[/product_listing]

You may also like:

YETI Roadie 15 Hard Cooler with DoubleDuty Shoulder Strap – $300.00

Ice Packs for Coolers – $27.95

Patio Umbrella Light – $17.99

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

Curtiss Kelly thought he was beginning a new chapter.

The Kelowna construction worker had landed a new job with Northland Properties and was settling into a routine on the worksite. Like anyone starting fresh, he was focused on proving himself during his probation period and looking ahead to what came next.

Just weeks into the job, doctors diagnosed him with Stage 4 lung and brain cancer and was still in his 90-day probation period when he learned of the diagnosis. Along with the  toll of cancer, he worried about what the illness could mean for his career.

“My biggest concern was I wasn’t going to have a job,” he said. “When you have cancer and you apply to a job, the chances are going to be low.”

At the time, Kelly was still working through Northland’s 90-day probation period. He had only been on the job for about 50 days when he learned the devastating news.

For many Canadians facing cancer, financial worries become part of the battle.

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found between one-third and 40 per cent of Canadians experience financial distress following a cancer diagnosis. The study also found many workers see their income fall by nearly 25% during the first year after being diagnosed.

After learning about his cancer, Northland Properties stepped in and fast-tracked his benefits, moving them ahead before he completed his 90-day probation period.

At the same time, the crew he works with came together to help, organizing a fundraiser that raised nearly $750 for Kelly and his partner.

A Stage 4 cancer diagnosis brings enough uncertainty on its own. Questions about treatment, finances and the future can quickly become overwhelming. But Kelly says knowing his employer and co-workers have his back has made a difficult situation a little easier to face.

While much of the attention is focused on doctors, treatments and test results, the support systems that surround a patient can be just as important. For Kelly, that support came from the people he works beside every day.

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

Memories of a great trip are something you can always take with you, but Amin Patani specializes in the physical reminders.

Even on a Thursday afternoon, Patani’s Steven Avenue store, Calgary Souvenir & Gift Shop, is teeming with dozens of visitors.

“Stampede T-shirts, hats, all sorts of cowboy accessories, magnets, keychains. The rest of the year, we sell a lot of mountain stuff,” Patani explained.

It’s the type of store that directly benefits from a booming tourism sector — and so far in 2026, business has been good in Calgary.

Tourism Calgary says year-over-year growth visitor spending in the first quarter was up seven per cent, indicating a strong summer season is ahead.

“All of the data is pointing to the reality that more people are choosing Calgary,” explained Alisha Reynolds, Tourism Calgary’s president and CEO. “And when they’re in Calgary, they’re staying longer and spending more.”

2025 already presented a tough act to follow, when 10.5 million people visited the city — generating $3.3 billion in visitor spending.

Tourism groups from across Canada reported a strong year that year, partly attributed to an increase in domestic travel amid anti-American sentiment.

Reynolds says the first three months of the year show that feeling doesn’t seem to be going away, with a four-per cent increase in the first quarter of 2026.

Three-quarters of tourists to Calgary in the first quarter were Canadians, according to Reynolds.

“Calgary ultimately is a destination that people are seeing as a base camp for adventure… a vibrant arts and culture scene, a growing and vibrant culinary scene,” Reynolds explained.

As a man heavily involved in that culinary scene, Ernie Tsu says he sees all kinds walk through the doors of his restaurants and other members of the Alberta Hospitality Association.

“We’ve seen an increase in American tourists and a lot of them have been genuinely awesome,” Tsu remarked. “It’s easy for them, not only because of the exchange of their dollar but how easily accessible it is for them to get over here.”

With a remarkable 45-per cent increase in recreation and entertainment spending so far compared to 2025, Reynolds says it’s a testament to the businesses that help maintain and expand the city’s vibrancy.

And while the city’s tourism crown jewel is still the Calgary Stampede — now less than a month away — the city also has nearly 70 meetings and conferences scheduled between May and September.

“That shows the investments made into our meeting and conventions spaces and building Calgary into a ‘Tier 1’ convention destination (that is) bringing a new set of global dollars.”

International visitor spending also increased by nearly 16 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, including a substantial jump in overseas visitor spending — up 12 per cent.

“We’re increasingly seeing those business travelers extend their trips, coming a little bit earlier, leaving a little bit later, and spending on sports,” Reynolds said.

The city will also see 27 major sporting events this summer and in November, the Grey Cup will be presented at McMahon Stadium.

And while it’s still off in the distance, the construction progress at Scotia Place — the city’s new event centre — is also reminding Calgarians and visitors the city will be one of the hosts for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey in 2027.

Patani plans to be there for every visitor until then and well beyond, with souvenirs at the ready.

“If somebody’s sitting next door having a drink, they say, ‘Oh, there’s a souvenir shop, we should go there.'”

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

Quebec’s government has introduced new legislation to expand the province’s French language charter to adult education and vocational training, prompting concern and criticism from English-language institutions and opposition parties.

The proposed law, known as Bill 8, was tabled by French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge. It would apply key provisions of the Charter of the French Language, also known as Bill 101, to adult education and trade programs.

Under the bill, students who do not hold eligibility certificates allowing them to attend English-language primary and secondary schools — and, more recently, English CEGEPs — would be required to pursue adult education in French.

Roberge said the government’s objective is to strengthen the use of French in Quebec, not to harm English-language school boards.

“We have a plan and we will achieve our goal — to reverse the decline of the French language,” Roberge said.

But the proposal is generating unease among students and administrators in the English system.

At an adult education centre in Montreal’s Saint-Léonard district, some students say they feel targeted by the changes. Norman Kawodo, who moved to Quebec from Uganda six years ago, said she was surprised by the approach.

“I come from a country where there are multiple languages and nobody is forced to learn the other language,” she said. “People learn freely.”

English school boards warn the new rules could drive students away from training programs at a time when skilled workers are in high demand.

Quebec English School Boards Association President, Joe Ortona, said many students could abandon their studies rather than switch languages.

“You’re going to have a bunch of students who came here willing to learn a trade dropping out and not entering the workforce where they’re desperately needed,” he told Global News.

Government figures suggest the bill would make roughly three-quarters of students currently enrolled in English-language adult education ineligible to continue in that system.

Ortona accused the government of ignoring the concerns of English school boards. “I don’t think he thinks about the English school boards at all,” he said.

Education Minister Sonia Lebel defended the proposal, saying it is primarily aimed at newcomers.

“When you come to Quebec, you have to live and work and prosper in French,” she said, adding the government wants to encourage immigrants to learn the language through their studies.

The legislation would not take effect for two years, meaning current students would not be affected.

Still, critics say the government has not adequately consulted stakeholders.

“There has been zero consultation on this,” Ortona said.

The Quebec Liberals are calling for formal hearings on the bill. Liberal MNA André Fortin suggested the timing of the proposal is calculated, as there is limited time remaining before the end of the current parliamentary session.

“It tells me (they) want to campaign on it. That’s it,” Fortin said.

Questions also remain about whether the French-language system has the capacity to absorb an estimated 27,000 additional students who could be redirected under the new rules.

The proposal is expected to face debate in the National Assembly.

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

B.C.’s mining industry is taking issue with the provincial government over an unexpected announcement on mineral exploration.

A restriction on new mineral claims that was supposed to end this week has been extended into next year.

The government says it needs more time to complete land-use planning and determine where future mining and conservation can occur.

The exploration industry says companies want clearer timelines.

“Explorers are tired of waking up and wondering if government is going to shut them down or restrict their access in more areas around the province,” Todd Stone, president and CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC, told Global News.

The Business Council of B.C. says the move only adds to concerns about permitting delays and investor uncertainty.

“If companies are unsure whether they can access land, whether they can advance work, whether they can rely on stable and predictable rules, then that investment becomes much much harder to attract,” Jairo Yunis, director of policy at the Business Council of British Columbia, said.

The province says existing claims and exploration projects are unaffected.

In a statement to Global News, it says the planning process will provide long-term certainty for First Nations, communities and industry.

“You’re going to have a tougher time convincing investors to come to British Columbia if you keep shutting off access to territory for mineral exploration, which is how you find the minerals for future mines,” Stone said.

The pause on new claims has now been extended until Jan. 31, 2027.

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