Canadians differ on how to celebrate the holidays amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, two more Tiananmen monuments are taken down, and cannabis use is on the rise. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
1. Holiday plans: Festive feasts, gift exchanges and winter fun with loved ones are being cancelled or limited as the Omicron variant rips through Canada for the second holiday season in a row.
2. Heart damage: A team from Germany is giving a first look at how the coronavirus can affect the heart by using three-dimensional X-rays of the organ.
3. Tiananmen monuments: Two more Hong Kong universities on Friday removed public monuments to the 1989 Tiananmen protests in Beijing, following the dismantling of a sculpture commemorating the victims of the crackdown earlier this week.
4. Cannabis use: A new survey suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on how Canadians use cannabis, with those under the age of 25 more likely to report an increase in their consumption.
5. Gender stereotypes: Parents who want to challenge gender stereotypes for their children may want to pay close attention to the type of storybooks they read to their kids, according to new research.
One more thing…
Coming to town: Rest assured, kids of all ages: Santa's coming this Christmas Eve, and a second holiday with COVID-19 won't stop him, according to NORAD.
In this photo provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a 22 Wing member is seen showing how they track Santa on his sleigh on Christmas evening during a media preview at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay on Dec. 9, 2021.(Sable Brown/NORAD via AP)
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have become 'occupiers' living in a fortified and barricaded mini-village, a lawyer for the Montreal school argued on Monday as he asked for an injunction to dismantle the more than two-week-old encampment on its downtown campus.
As Newfoundland and Labrador's justice minister exchanges letters with his federal counterpart about legal reforms that would curb intimate partner violence, the head of a women's centre in the province says what's needed is much simpler: money.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would allow the City of Vancouver to limit rent increases for new tenants in its poorest neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside.
Canadian National (CN) Railway suspended service on its network between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in B.C. and north of High Level, Alta., due to wildfires, the company said on Monday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a new law regulating transgender people's use of bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in public education buildings, making Mississippi at least the 12th state to restrict transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity.
The United Nations on Monday clarified that the overall number of fatalities in Gaza tallied by the Ministry of Health in Gaza remains unchanged, at more than 35,000, since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
Three men charged in the 2018 prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger have reached plea deals with prosecutors, according to court papers filed Monday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning to raise money for former U.S. president Donald Trump in the coming weeks, two sources tell the Associated Press.
The memoirs of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be released in November, nearly three years after her 16-year tenure leading one of Europe's biggest powers ended.
A billboard has collapsed and killed three people and injured 59 in India's financial capital, Mumbai, in thunderstorms and heavy rain, the Press Trust of India reported Monday.
Artificial intelligence will have an impact on the Canadian labour force, a parliamentary committee recently heard, and MPs are suggesting ways the federal government can better prepare.
As his criminal trial got underway Monday, 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Pat King pleaded not guilty to a list of nine charges related to the major protest that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in 2022.
Canada’s foreign affairs minister is embarking on a five-day trip to the Middle East and the Mediterranean where she will focus on peacekeeping and aid.
Patients taking Novo Nordisk's popular Wegovy obesity treatment maintained an average of 10 per cent weight loss after four years on the treatment, the company said on Tuesday.
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
High-level envoys from the United States and China are set to meet in Geneva on Tuesday for talks about artificial intelligence.
OpenAI on Monday announced its latest artificial intelligence large language model that it says will be easier and more intuitive to use.
Justin Trudeau says Meta is making billions off people, but taking no responsibility for the well-being of communities they profit from.
TLC fans looking forward to their concert in Moncton on Tuesday will be disappointed to find out that the show has been cancelled due to illness.
The Cannes Film Festival rarely passes without cacophony but this year's edition may be more raucous and uneasy than any edition in recent memory.
Taylor Swift closed out her four-night Eras Tour run in Paris on Sunday with a show that appeared to be Taylor-made for Travis Kelce.
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.
The Federal Court of Appeal says work on a massive rail-and-truck hub in the Greater Toronto Area can go ahead — for the time being, as the future of the facility remains in limbo.
The 148th Westminster show kicked off Saturday, and Monday marked the start of the traditional judging that leads to the best in show prize, to be awarded Tuesday night.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
When it comes to gardening, a lot of questions come up, including the best way to keep pets away from plants, maintaining your lawn and keeping the dandelions at bay.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Stuart Skinner, the Oilers' starting goalie all season and for each of their eight post-season games this year, allowed all four goals scored against his team Sunday night, some of them arguably his fault.
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, preparing for his first professional fight since 2005, warned YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Monday that his life will be on the line during their July 20 bout.
Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit is being investigated by the U.S. government's highway safety agency after two of its vehicles braked suddenly and were rear-ended by motorcyclists.
A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling.
The Biden administration plans to impose major new tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the plan.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
With thousands evacuating Fort Nelson due to a wildfire encroaching on the town, nearby communities are opening their doors to those who’ve had their lives turned upside down in a matter of moments.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
In the first of a three-part series on Gardiner Gridlock, CTV Toronto examines the impact that the three-year cut to capacity on the downtown expressway is having on commuters – and their outcry.
Videos of two of the several shootings in the Toronto area over the weekend involving tow trucks show bullets fired from moving vehicles and hitting trucks.
Subway service on Toronto's Line 2 was suspended through the afternoon rush due to a hydraulic oil leak that was first detected on Monday morning.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
A teenage boy was stabbed late Monday afternoon near John G. Diefenbaker High School in Calgary's northwest.
It's hazy, it smells and it's a sign that another Alberta summer is on the horizon.
Ottawa police have upgraded an attempted murder charge against a 42-year-old man after one of the victims of an apartment fire earlier this month died.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a collision in Rockland Monday afternoon involving a school bus and a child.
Ottawa police are investigating after pills were found inside pieces of bread scattered about an east Ottawa neighbourhood.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at McGill University have become 'occupiers' living in a fortified and barricaded mini-village, a lawyer for the Montreal school argued on Monday as he asked for an injunction to dismantle the more than two-week-old encampment on its downtown campus.
Several people were sent to hospital with 'serious injuries' Monday after a vehicle failed to stop for police and then crashed into multiple other vehicles, according to Quebec's police watchdog.
A family in NDG that had mice and cockroaches falling through a hole in their bathroom ceiling says the ordeal finally appears to be over, but the pressure isn't off the landlord just yet.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will ask the province’s police watchdog to investigate how officers forcibly cleared out two pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
A woman whose 81-year-old father recently spent three weeks receiving care in an Edmonton hospital hallway is joining the Alberta NDP to call for better care, including more health-care workers, and a south Edmonton hospital.
Stuart Skinner, the Oilers' starting goalie all season and for each of their eight post-season games this year, allowed all four goals scored against his team Sunday night, some of them arguably his fault.
Arthur L. Irving, chairman emeritus and former president of Irving Oil, has died at the age of 93.
A 26-year-old woman has been charged with stunting after allegedly driving more than 50 km/h over the speed limit in the Halifax-area on Monday.
TLC fans looking forward to their concert in Moncton on Tuesday will be disappointed to find out that the show has been cancelled due to illness.
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Fire crews are continuing to battle a significant blaze in Manitoba’s north that has prompted evacuations.
A Winnipeg man has died after his canoe tipped over on Sunday.
Organizers for Regina's Pride parade have barred legislature members of the governing Saskatchewan Party from participating in the event in June.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) is asking drivers and pedestrians to avoid 7th Avenue between Retallack Street and Cameron Street as an investigation is underway.
In a growing city it’s no surprise when suburban residents come across wild animals around their yards, but one Saskatoon homeowner in Kensington started poking around for answers when she spotted a quilled critter hanging out in her garage.
Kitchener city councillors voted in favour of giving THEMUSEUM $300,000 to avoid being forced to close.
A $50,000 reward is being provided by the Government of Ontario to help identify a young child whose remains were found along the Grand River in 2022.
People living in Wellington County North, Arthur and Mount Forest are being advised to take cover as scattered thunderstorms sweep across the area into Monday evening.
In a growing city it’s no surprise when suburban residents come across wild animals around their yards, but one Saskatoon homeowner in Kensington started poking around for answers when she spotted a quilled critter hanging out in her garage.
The end of the school year and a looming fall election are putting additional pressure on the province to strike a deal with Saskatchewan teachers, according to two political scientists.
Saskatoon police say the driver of a dump truck heavily damaged in a crash on Circle Drive on Friday died in hospital.
A 29-year-old Timmins man is charged with impaired driving in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 144 near Greater Sudbury that sent two children to hospital by air ambulance Saturday.
A vehicle travelling on Highway 11 early in the morning last weekend rolled over in the ditch just west of Smooth Rock Falls.
One of two men wanted for attempted murder in Timmins has been arrested, while a warrant has been issued for a second suspect, who fled police on foot.
Under tough cross-examination from the Crown, a London, Ont. mother continued to vehemently deny that she sexually abused her children. The 54-year-old mother resumed with her testimony Monday for a second straight week in a row.
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
As the protest enters its sixth day, tension is growing between Western University and a growing encampment in support of Gaza.
A new facility officially unveiled in Gravenhurst aims to significantly reduce the ongoing housing affordability crisis.
Young mother was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Innisfil Saturday morning.
A Barrie teen faces serious charges after an alleged altercation in a parking lot that police say sent a female to the hospital.
After a marathon, six-hour meeting on the Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, council and the mayor voted in favour of increasing taxes to support the core.
A Pro-Palestinian supporter is in for the long haul at the University of Windsor’s Liberation Zone. 'I'm here for as long as it takes,' the supporter said.
As a fan of all things astronomy, Zeel Parmar has long dreamt of flying to Alaska to witness the northern lights with her own eyes — so she was shocked to find the colours of the aurora borealis shimmering over the skies of Windsor, Ont. late Friday night.
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Most open burning will be banned in coastal B.C. ahead of the May long weekend.
A wildfire burning dangerously close to Fort Nelson, B.C., has grown to more than 50 square kilometres, and officials are warning that the blaze's behaviour is expected to become more volatile over the next 48 hours.
One person is dead after a fight in Penticton early Sunday morning, according to authorities.
A suspect is at large after robbing a convenience store at gunpoint in Merritt, B.C., Friday, according to local police.
After four targeted shootings in four days, Mounties in Kamloops are taking the unusual step of warning the public about two men they believe are likely to be targeted in future violent incidents.
Some Lethbridge charities are having a hard time staffing volunteers, saying the number of people willing to donate their time to non-profits over the years has decreased.
Thousands of messages were sent between a teenage girl in the U.S. and an Alberta man posing as a young boy, a police investigation has revealed.
After a dry winter, southern Alberta farmers were expecting it to be another tough growing season.
Ontario’s police watchdog has been called in after multiple shootings in Sault Ste. Marie took place last weekend.
A 40-year-old man from Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with arson and mischief following several incidents beginning April 14.
A 22-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area is facing drug trafficking charges after police in northwestern Ontario seized $700,000 in drugs during raid.
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Health officials say there is an outbreak of whooping cough in eastern Newfoundland.
Ontario Provincial Police are facing tough questions about their search for a missing Newfoundland trucker whose rig was found two weeks ago in Ontario, then sent back to Newfoundland, where his body was found Monday in the trailer.
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