Weekly News Recap: April 25, 2025

Weekly News Recap: April 25, 2025

Joannah and Brian Lawson are photographed in their Toronto home, on April 21. The Brian and Joannah Lawson Family Foundation is among the latest donors to the Climate Champions program.

Never go on trips with anyone you do not love. -- Ernest Hemingway

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO: Meet the 89-year-old releasing his first album (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #GoodOnHim "Max Gallant has been a musician for most of his life, but he didn't start singing until he was in his 80s. And now, just before his 90th birthday, he's releasing his first album called Please No Green Bananas (I'm 90)."

  • VIDEO: Gary the Cat Is Inspiring Thousands to Reimagine Life With Pets Outdoors (One Green Planet) KELOWNA STORY The skiing scenes are the best. "Meet Gary, the 10-year-old domestic longhair who’s quietly become a social media sensation—without ever chasing clout. Known as 'the Internet’s most adventurous cat,' Gary has racked up over 600,000 followers on Instagram for his awe-inspiring outdoor escapades, from hiking in the Rockies to calmly paddling across alpine lakes."

  • VIDEO: Meet a teen trapper whose northern Sask. lifestyle is shaping her future (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY I love Canada. "Mary Roberts grew up in Saskatchewan’s north. She knows how to trap and live off the land. One day, she hopes to become a fur fashion influencer."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. VIDEO: What will it take to defend Canada? Experts say party platforms miss the target (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "There is an 'anything you can do, I can do better' vibe to the defence policies of both the Liberals and the Conservatives, but a trio of national security and military experts say each of the parties are missing — or avoiding — the fundamental national security issue at stake in this election."

  2. Declining volunteerism rates on display in rural Alberta (St. Albert Gazette) ALBERTA STORY "As the end of April approaches, organizations, clubs and non-profits across the province are celebrating the Albertans who donate their time, effort and energy to bring events and initiatives to life for Volunteer Appreciation Week. And while volunteer-run specials like cornhole leagues, rodeos, charity golf tournaments and celebratory barbecues have made rural Albertan communities like Athabasca a colourful place to be for generations, fewer and fewer organizations across the province are having more and more trouble finding volunteers."

  3. VIDEO: Your morning cup of coffee is about to cost even more — thanks to U.S. tariffs (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Now, this really hurts. "The price of a cup of coffee in Canada is expected to rise as the world continues to feel the effects of U.S President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to industry experts and cafés. Trump had threatened extremely steep tariffs on coffee-producing countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and India earlier this month — before saying he would pause those tariff rates and impose a 10 per cent baseline rate for all imported goods. While those rates would be paid by U.S. importers, many Canadian coffee roasters and brands source their product from U.S. wholesalers and warehouses."

  4. VIDEO: Canada's Linkletter eyes 1st marathon win next month in Ottawa after 'surreal' Boston performance (CBC) CALGARY STORY As someone who has run a couple of marathons, I am always in awe of these folks who can run SO FAST. Congrats to Rory. #OlympicsBound "Rory Linkletter will return home to Canada next month with a clear-cut goal for his Ottawa Marathon debut. 'I want to try to win a marathon,' he told CBC Sports before placing sixth on Monday in Boston, where he finished in two hours seven minutes two seconds, a 59-second personal best and fastest time by a Canadian at the event."

  5. Calgary changemaker Nicholas R. Bell: A conversation with Glenbow president and CEO (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Congrats on all you are helping the Glenbow accomplish. "Nicholas R. Bell became president and CEO of Glenbow in 2019, a time when Calgary’s biggest museum had been around for half a century and perhaps overdue for some major changes."

  6. Len Webber makes good on promise to late wife (CTV) CALGARY STORY Thanks for your service Mr. Webber. "It started with a promise Len Webber made to his wife in 2010, as her long battle with cancer came to its end. They had fallen in love in the mid-1980s when they were both varsity athletes at Red Deer College in central Alberta."

  7. VIDEO: Why the Dutch still honour Canadians, 80 years after their liberation from Germany (CBC) CANADIAN STORY My grandfather was a war veteran and whenever he and my grandmother visited the Netherlands, they received the warmest of welcomes. "Canadian veteran Jim Parks is getting ready to visit the Netherlands again, 80 years after playing a role in liberating the country from German occupation. And he can expect a warm welcome. 'He's still our hero,' said Marco Kalmijn, who is part of the Canadian Liberators Foundation, which helps Canadian veterans visit the Netherlands. 'Even after 80 years, he's still our hero here in the Netherlands, so we're so grateful he can come again.' "

  8. VIDEO: Pilgrims, tourists in St. Peter's Square for Easter express shock over Pope's death (CBC) I really loved Pope Francis. RIP, we will not see his like again. "They had come from around the world and crammed into St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis deliver an appeal for peace on Easter. A day later, the Vatican announced he was dead. Tourists and pilgrims who flocked to Rome for Holy Week were dazed with shock at news Monday of the death of Francis, the morning after his open-topped popemobile was driven through crowds cheering 'viva il papa!' on Christianity's holiest day."

  9. VIDEO: CHEO issues travel warning for staff about travel to the United States (CTV) OTTAWA STORY I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. "Ottawa’s children’s hospital is reminding staff to follow 'best practices' when travelling to the United States and leave their work cellphones and laptops at home. The federal government is reminding Canadians to take 'normal security precautions' when travelling to the United States, and to expect scrutiny from border guards."

  10. VIDEO: 'Your face looks grotesque': How looksmaxxing can harm young men and boys (CBC) CANADIAN STORY This is a creepy and worrisome trend. "Most of us likely have days when we feel we're not looking our best. Maybe our hair's a little wonky, or we look more tired than usual. Or perhaps there's a feature of our physical appearance that we've never quite made peace with. But for some young men who participate in an online community called "'ooksmaxxing,' those self-critiques can become excessive. And the criticism they receive from other members — and their suggested remedies, which can include self-injury and surgery — are even more extreme."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. How To Order Coffee In Europe Without Sounding Like A Tourist (And Get What You Want) (Explore) I learned early on that there is a difference between a cafe latte and a cafe au lait.

  2. The truth about stress: from the benefits of the ‘good kind’ to the exercise that only makes it worse (The Guardian) Turns out that some physical exercise actually does make stress worse.

  3. The Pour-igin of Species (Puddling) Do you buy because of the label? I know a little about wine and even I do sometimes :-). This is a fun romp through wine labeling.

  4. Learn How to Drive a Stick Shift With These Simple Steps (Popular Mechanics) I really think this is a lifeskill.

  5. A crow's math skills include geometry (NPR) Crows are truly amazing.

  6. VIDEO: The mind-blowing engineering of a 13th century clock controlled entirely by water (UpWorthy) Wow! Just wow.

  7. Why isn't 'laugh' spelled L-A-F? Author explores the many failed attempts of simplifying English spelling (Radio) Many non-English speakers ask this very question.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Canadian climate philanthropy campaign climbs to nearly $500-million (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY ViTreo is proud to have helped the Clean Economy Fund with this campaign. Kudos to all and especially the donors. "A campaign enlisting wealthy families and foundations to fund climate-related causes across Canada has added $76-million in donations, with the bulk earmarked for a research institute at the University of Toronto that will span numerous faculties."

  2. Desjardins Group donates $2.575 million to propel innovation, entrepreneurship, and professional development at Concordia (Concordia) MONTREAL STORY "In a constantly evolving society, where socioeconomic challenges are significant, Desjardins Group has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and education by making a major donation of $2.575 million to Concordia."

  3. Yale School of Music receives $7 million to expand faculty, curriculum (Philanthropy News Digest) "The Yale School of Music (YSM) has announced two gifts totaling $7 million from Dunard Fund USA, a Northbrook, Illinois, foundation closely associated with the family of the late Richard D. Colburn."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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