News
LOCAL
In local news, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation announced that donations are nearing the $30-million Back the Build campaign goal, The Foundation estimates that the goal will be reached by March 31, 2027. That will be nine months before the forecasted opening date of the new hospital in December 2027.
A local resident, David Binet, has committed to match new gifts to Back the Build, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. The initiative will generate $500,000 toward the approximately $800,000 remaining, putting the Foundation within reach of completing the historic campaign.
The $250,000 matching commitment forms part of a larger major gift to PECMH Foundation that will be formally announced in 2027. By making a portion of the gift available now as a match, Mr. Binet hopes to inspire others to join the final push for the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.
OPP
As we prepare to gather for Thanksgiving celebrations, the OPP are reminding everyone to make safe choices as they travel to and from their destination this long weekend.
The OPP is joining police services across Canada for Operation Impact, an annual national traffic safety initiative led by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The campaign supports Canada’s Road Safety Strategy and focuses on high-risk driving behaviours that contribute to serious collisions. It aims to create safer streets and highways across Canada.
Over the last 10 years in Ontario, Thanksgiving weekends have had the second highest number of fatalities among all long weekends. Last year alone, 13 people lost their lives in roadway collisions in OPP jurisdictions. Alcohol and drug use remain the leading factors in fatalities over the last decade, while failing to wear safety equipment, such as seat belts, helmets and life jackets, continues to be a significant contributor.
In support of Operation Impact, OPP officers will be patrolling across Ontario to help prevent high-risk behaviours and enforce road safety.
JOBS
On the economic front, Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, according to Statistics Canada, marking a second month of losses in a row. The unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent.
The decline was concentrated in youth aged 15 to 24, who accounted for 70% of the job losses. StatsCan says job losses were split between full- and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector.
The decline follows 42,000 job losses in August, which came as a surprise to economists and snapped a hot streak for the labour market. Before the two monthly declines, Statistics Canada data showed employment trending upward, with 181,000 jobs added between April and July. Employment is still up compared to a year ago by 95,000 positions.
And finally, Canadian author Anne Carson was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature yesterday for her bold and inventive works that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, have created new forms for contemporary literature.
Anne Carson was born in 1950 in Toronto. In 1981, she published her doctoral thesis in Classics and has, throughout her entire career, combined poetry writing with translation work and teaching at various universities.
The selection panel noted her collaborations with visual artists, choreographers and opera and theatre directors, demonstrate the freedom with which she relates to literary expectations and rule systems. It is these collaborations that lie behind the outstanding importance her work has had for the international art and literature scene.
Sports
LOCAL HOCKEY
In local hockey news, the Wellington Dukes hope to keep their good start to the season as they welcome the Pickering Panthers to LeHigh Arena tonight at 7:30. The Dukes sit in second spot in the Eastern Conference. Then tomorrow night, they are off to Aurora for 7:00 Pm game against the Tigers.
On the other side of the County, the Picton Pirates are at home to the Napanee Raiders on Sunday night for a 7:30 pm start.
In the Northern Premier Hockey League, The County Royals take a 2-0 start into Westport Community Arena on Saturday at 4:00 PM when they battle the Lumberjacks.
CFL
With just three weeks to go in the CFL regular season, the playoff picture in the East is already set. In the West, all five teams still have a good chance at a playoff or crossover spot. Tonight the Edmonton Elks are in Hamilton against the Tiger Cats. The Ottawa Red Blacks are out in Vancouver to face the BC Lions. Tomorrow the Calgary Stampeders travel to Winnipeg in a key battle with the Blue Bombers. Finally on Monday, the League’s top team Montreal Alouettes play host to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
F1 Racing
F1 racing continues this weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix that has been moved to Malaysia due to the conflict in the Arabian Gulf. You will have to be a bit of a nighthawk to watch it live. The qualifying round is Saturday morning at 4:00 am. The 56 lap, 310 km race starts at 3:00 am on Sunday.
There is a considerable difference between the two tracks. Of the two, the Segang circuit on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur has much higher tire degradation and very unpredictable weather. High temperatures, wind and thunderstorms are forecasted throughout the weekend.
