Labour Market News

The N.L. Government has cancelled plans for a new $10B hospital at Kenmount Crossing and instead will be modernizing the existing St. Clare’s Hospital. Plans for a mid-sized theatre for St. John’s and a sports and wellness dome have also been cancelled, while projects including the Janeway redevelopment and the downtown wellness clinic are being paused.

Memorial University has announced plans to sell off its U.K. campus, the Geo Centre, the Signal Hill campus, and the printing services building. Harlow Campus will see 7 employees laid off in late August when that campus closes. Discussions are ongoing for the 12 employees at the Johnson Geo Centre and no job cuts are expected at Signal Hill Campus or Printing Services, both of which will be relocated to the St. John’s campus.

The Government of Canada has announced an investment of $1.7M to to restore a historic wetland in the City of Calgary. The investment will be used for removing an existing drainage system, replanting with existing seedbank, native plugs, and plants, and creating trails to enhance access to nature.

The New Brunswick-based brewery and bar, Holy Whale, has taken over the former Upstreet Craft Brewing site in Charlottetown. Renovations are underway and Holy Whale is expecting to open in a month or two.

The 2026 Canadian State of Restaurants Report shows that the ongoing trade war with the U.S. has resulted in Canadian restaurants spending 37% more on food. Restaurants are also under pressure due to rising staff costs and labour shortages.

Tasiang Kitchen & Taps has opened a new restaurant in Miscouche, serving a mix of Canadian pub food and traditional Chinese dishes. The establishment is located in the Prince County Guest House.

The Cavendish Beach Events Centre is hoping to build a multi-level, open-air amphitheatre with a capacity for 1,500 people. The wooden structure would operate year-round and could be used for music festivals, comedy, theatre and community events.

The 2026 Canadian State of Restaurants Report shows that the ongoing trade war with the U.S. has resulted in Canadian restaurants spending 37% more on food. Restaurants are also under pressure due to rising staff costs and labour shortages.

The 2026 Canadian State of Restaurants Report shows that the ongoing trade war with the U.S. has resulted in Canadian restaurants spending 37% more on food. Restaurants are also under pressure due to rising staff costs and labour shortages.

The 2026 Canadian State of Restaurants Report shows that the ongoing trade war with the U.S. has resulted in Canadian restaurants spending 37% more on food. Restaurants are also under pressure due to rising staff costs and labour shortages.

Codiac Transpo will spend $4.2M as part of a new eight year plan to grow ridership over the coming years. Moncton buses will be more integrated with Dieppe and Riverview bus routes. The plan includes hiring eight new staff and adding 8,500 service hours.

Lambton College in Sarnia received $2.47M from federal and provincial governments to expand its biotechnology and circular economy research, strengthening lab capacity, supporting industry partnerships, and helping develop a highly skilled local workforce

Caldwell First Nation's housing development has begun phase 2, adding 16 new homes to the reserve in Leamington, south-east of Windsor

The Silviculture Innovation Program has partnered with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC to fund forestry projects across the province. The partnership is hiring an Extension Specialist to translate technical knowledge into practical resources, in addition to working with Indigenous nations, local government, and educational facilities to facility trust and transparency in forestry decisions.

No Frills is opening a new grocery store location on Hastings Street in Burnaby on January 29.

Kos Waffles, a Norwegian waffle shop, has recently closed its Robson Street location in downtown Vancouver.

The Thrift is opening a new thrift store location on Main Street in downtown Chilliwack on January 31.

My Neighbourhood Restaurant, a breakfast-and-lunch eatery, is closing its Rutland location in Kelowna on February 15.

Hexagon Purus, a manufacturer specializing in hydrogen and battery energy storage solutions for commercial trucks, is reducing its Kelowna workforce by two-thirds. The company is scaling back operations and reducing staffing to cut costs amid a prolonged slowdown in climate-related investment driven by shifting U.S. policies and uncertainty around incentives.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. has recently cut 100 part-time jobs connected to its Guest Education Centre. The affected workers were based in Vancouver or worked remotely. The company is planning to prioritize a full-time employee model for the centre going forward.

The Government of BC is providing $1.7M to expand Foundry mental-health and addiction services to five communities across the province. Once operational, the centres will provide support to both young people aged 12 to 24 and their caregivers by providing free access to services such as counselling, peer support, physical and sexual health care, workshops, and education and employment assistance.

CentreVenture, Winnipeg’s downtown development agency, is spending $4.6M to convert heritage buildings into 297 new housing units. Four vacant buildings will be redeveloped, including the St. Charles Hotel on Notre Dame Avenue and Maw’s Garage on Bannatyne Avenue. More than a third of the planned units will be affordable housing.

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society and Citizens for Public Justice have lost their challenge against the Government of Saskatchewan to block the life extension of three coal-fired power plants to 2050. Two coal-fired plants near Estevan and the plant near Coronach, will continue operating for 20 years past the federal deadline to shutter them.

The Government of Saskatchewan will host the Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum on March 11, 2026. This event will feature industry tours, presentations, and exclusive networking opportunities designed to strengthen relationships, build capacity, and attract new investment to Saskatchewan’s expanding defence ecosystem. The event will be held at the World Trade Centre Saskatoon at Prairieland Park.

Toys R Us is preparing to close its retail stores in Saskatchewan, including its Saskatoon and Regina stores. The business is currently facing financial troubles and several lawsuits from suppliers. The closure date of the stores has yet to be announced.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced they will close seven of their research operations across Canada, including two satellite research farms in Saskatchewan. According to AAFC, about 665 department positions have been reduced and nearly 1,050 employees received notices. The closure is part of the Government of Canada’s 2025 budget cuts. The closure date has yet to be confirmed.

The Yukon government announced several mining sector initiatives at this year’s Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup. They include new regulatory timelines, new online tools for permit applications, and $1.4M in new funding for the territory’s mineral exploration program.

Canada’s three territories and four western provinces have signed a memorandum of understanding committing to working together on a critical minerals strategy. One issue it hopes to resolve is energy capacity in the Yukon, where the lack of excess power is limiting mining development.

Delegates at the Dene National Assembly have passed a resolution directing the Dene Nation to establish a water office that would support research, advocacy, and water protection. The leadership will develop an implementation plan and seek funding for the initiative.

The Government of Northwest Territories has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tłı̨chǫ Government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation, agreeing to collaborate on the development of the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. The project consists of a highway connecting the NWT to a planned deepwater port in Nunavut and is estimated to cost billions if it goes ahead.

A new report from the International Monetary Fund says if Canada eliminated provincial trade barriers, it could increase its real GDP by about 7%. The report says that smaller provinces would gain the most, with P.E.I. potentially seeing a 40% jump in its GDP.

Jazz Aviation, which operates flights for Air Canada Express, is closing its Halifax flight attendant base at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on March 1. Jazz Aviation’s headquarters, operations centre and heavy maintenance facility in Halifax are not affected by the base closure and there are no indication this will result in fewer routes out of Halifax.

N.S. is on track to meet its green energy goal of 80% renewable energy by 2030 through a combination of onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy batteries and other small projects. Five new onshore wind farms are set to be completed by the end of 2026, and another four on track to be finished by the end of 2028.

BearCan, a construction company based in Rexton, has bought the former shellfish plant in Richibucto. The company wants to use the facility to grow their operations and create new jobs. BearCan creates rapid and affordable houses in rural areas.

Ontario is involved in talks with N.B. officials and is looking to export more goods through the Port of Saint John. Currently about a third of the containerized cargo moving through the Port of Saint John is attributed to the Ontario market.

The Ville de Sorel-Tracy has invested nearly $44M in its future aquatic complex. The federal and provincial governments have jointly contributed $26M to the project, which should be completed in the spring of 2027.

The Salon de l’emploi Trois-Rivières— Bécancour will hold its 14th annual event on February 25, 2026, at the Bâtisse industrielle in Trois-Rivières. More than 100 employers will be present with 1,500 available jobs.

The Salon de l’emploi Trois-Rivières— Bécancour will hold its 14th annual event on February 25, 2026, at the Bâtisse industrielle in Trois-Rivières. More than 100 employers will be present with 1,500 available jobs.

Mode Choc, a family clothing retailer, is currently hiring in preparation for its new store opening in Joliette in the spring of 2027

Municipalities in the Beauce-Sud electoral district are receiving over $6.7M from the Government of Quebec to improve their local and municipal transportation networks

Logisco, a real estate developer, and Groupe Martin, a food service company, will start the Axel project in Québec this March. The 116-unit project valued at $49M is scheduled to have its first units delivered in the fall of 2027.

The food bank in Magog, a charitable organization, inaugurated the expansion of its social grocery store in the city of the same name. The project was made possible thanks to $1.2M in investments.

Petersen Cabinets & Building Supplies Ltd. store has closed in Thunder Bay

Cafe Gigi/The Dirty Laundry, a dual-concept café and bar will open in downtown Toronto in March

The Beer Store will close its Richmond Street location in London in March

The Municipality of Arran‑Elderslie is accepting applications for over 35 summer student jobs

Halton Region and the federal government are contributing $16.5M and $49.8M, respectively, to support a new 140unit purpose built rental building in Milton, including 46 deeply affordable units funded by the Region, with occupancy expected later in 2026

Major Refrigeration Peach King Centre, a 130,000-sq-ft. community hub, has opened in Grimsby

Restaurant Grandjoy Hot Pot has permanently closed its Robson Street location in Vancouver, following a temporary closure on January 6.

Famoso Pizzeria + Bar has permanently closed its Commercial Drive location in Vancouver and a new Italian restaurant called Violete will open in its place.

InspireHealth Supportive Cancer Care has opened a new location in Kamloops on January 15. The care centre will provide both medical consultations and supportive programs such as therapy, nutrition support, and cancer education, in addition to a two-day LIFE Program.

The Eskay Creek project, overseen by Skeena Gold + Silver, has received environmental approval and provincial and federal permits to restart mining at a former underground mine located in the Tahltan territory just northwest of Stewart. Initial production is slated to begin by 2027, and the project is expected to create around 1,000 construction jobs and 770 operational jobs.

The Government of BC has announced that starting April 1, mineral exploration permits will be processed in 40 to 140 days based on project complexity. Some improvements include clearer guidance, system changes, and enhanced transparency. Additionally, the budget will be increased by an extra $1M to hire more staff and a further $2M will be provided to support the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework.

The Government of Canada allocating $894K to enhance rural transit services in two BC communities. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District will use the funds to install new bus stops and shelters, while the Semiahmoo First Nation will purchase a new mini-bus for the community.

Construction is scheduled to begin this week on four new schools: three in Winnipeg and another in Brandon. The schools are scheduled to open in 2027 and are among the first projects to fall under the province’s Manitoba Jobs Agreement, which prioritizes Manitoba workers for major projects. Three of five contracts awarded for the school projects are with Manitoba companies.

In Steinbach, the Initiative for Neighbourly Nights is working to establish a 30-bed transitional housing project. The group has submitted a proposal to City Council that includes security, nursing, and outreach staff to provide supports to tenants.

The Northwest Territories government is increasing its contribution to the Interim Resource Management Assistance Program, which helps Indigenous governments and organizations to participate in land and resource decisions. The territory’s funding is increasing by about $800,000 and it has encouraged Ottawa to increase its share as well, since the program receives more requests than it can accommodate.

The Northwest Territories government and the Acho Dene Koe First Nation have signed a memorandum of agreement on improving housing in Echaot’l Koe (Fort Liard). The agreement creates a working group that will focus on housing planning, repair and construction of units, and coordinating programs and services.

The YWCA NWT is seeking Indigenous artists to design and paint a mural at its Gotı̨ li Kǫ̀ transitional family housing building and office. The organization is accepting expressions of interest from individuals and groups until February 20, 2026.

Calgary-based Cenovus Energy is repairing storm related damage at its 172,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lima, Ohio.

Calgary-based Pan American Energy Corp. is running a winter diamond drilling program at its Tharsis Project in the Northwest Territories.

The Government of Alberta has announced the completion of the $27.1M expansion of the Canmore Nordic Centre. The enhancements include a new biathlon building to support race operations and event logistics and creation of the world’s longest engineered snow trail.  The remaining exterior work is planned for spring and summer 2026.

The City of Edmonton has announced the opening of the new Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre. The facility offers many amenities including 333-metre running track, 50-metre pool and indoor courts.

Vitalité Health Network has recruited a large number of physicians in 2025 thanks to numerous new doctors from Quebec. The health network saw a net gain of 41 doctors in 2025 and saw more than 50 Quebec doctors apply for N.B. licensure in one month alone.

Tops Pizza and Restaurant on Union Street in Saint John has stated that it will close its doors in February. A spokesperson stated that the decision was made to realign their business strategy in the current market environment.

Bathurst started 2026 with a brand-new transit service, with three 24-passenger buses offering door-to-door service. The service aims to provide affordable transportation, with rides costing $5 a ride. FlexGo will operate the Bathurst service.

The regional county municipality of La Manicouagan is investing just over $1.4M in rehabilitating two buildings in Baie-Comeau

The Ville de Sainte-Julie is receiving around $3.5M from the Government of Quebec to rehabilitate chemin du Fer-à-Cheval

Atelier d’usinage Côté & Audet, a company specializing in large-scale welding, is investing $4M in modernizing operations at its plant in Sorel-Tracy. The governments of Quebec and Canada are contributing a total of just over $2M to the project.

Consignaction+, a deposit centre for returnable containers, opened a new location in Gatineau

exo is a public transportation company providing train, bus, and paratransit services in the northern and southern suburbs of Montréal. The company is laying off around 75 employees in customer service and management.

The Carleton Place Clinic recently opened with $1.2M in annual provincial funding, supplemented by $1.7M over ten years from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Physician Group

Plato's Closet, a clothing store aimed at teens and young adults, is opening in Kamloops’ Sahali neighbourhood. The store is slated to open in early to mid-April and is expecting to hire about 20 employees.

Western Canada’s provinces and territories have signed a memorandum of understanding on January 25 to collaborate on developing a shared critical minerals strategy. The agreement aims to position Western Canada as a global hub for innovative and sustainable development, while prioritizing regional critical mineral hubs and facilitating infrastructure planning needed in mineral extraction and export.

State & Main Kitchen + Bar has opened a second Winnipeg location, near the CF Polo Park shopping centre. The restaurant chain’s first location is in Kildonan Place Mall in the city’s northeast.

Metro Pet Crematory (Dartmouth) has closed after 20 years in business due to increased competition from a new nearby corporate competitor. About 90% of the company’s business was through veterinary partners, two-thirds of those now large corporate entities that started partnering with the corporate crematory. Tariffs also had an impact.

The N.L. Government’s 2026 Summer Employment Program for Students is accepting applications up until the February 19 deadline. That program is for non-profit and private sector employers, including municipalities, who wish to hire students.

AGNORA Ltd. is investing $7.3M with an additional $1M from the provincial government to increase glass production capacity, creating 20 new jobs in Collingwood over the next five years

Gul Gul Restaurant is opening soon in East Windsor

The Waffle Co., a waffle-focused coffee and dessert shop, is opening on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver.

Hon’s Wonton House has permanently closed its Olympic Village location in Vancouver on January 9.

The City of Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation have successfully raised $1.2M to establish a new senior-friendly emergency department at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. The facility will cater to patients aged 65 and older by providing an area with softer lighting, reduced noise, specialized staff, and accessible equipment. The emergency room is set to open in winter 2027.

The Port of Prince Rupert is launching three clean technology pilot projects valued at $1.7M. The initiative aims to reduce emissions, improve safety, and support jobs in northern communities. The projects include developing a hydrogen-fuelling station, launching an autonomous zero-emission ocean monitoring system, and installing a data-acquisition system for a short-haul truck at the port.

Buck or Two Plus, a family-run dollar store, has recently opened a new location along Westside Road on Okanagan Indian Band Reserve lands.

The Chemainus mill will remain closed until the end of the year due to weak market demands, high tariffs, and log supply issues. Western Forest Products plans to implement curtailments at other Vancouver Island sites starting February, with the Ladysmith and Saltair sawmills facing two-week operational pauses for similar reasons.

Red River College Polytech’s Portage campus is offering local entrepreneurs six months of rent-free access to office space in its innovation hub, the Prairie Project Studio. For a monthly fee its Fab Lab also includes manufacturing tools such as 3D printers, engravers, sewing machines, and a latex printer.

The Government of Manitoba is providing $350,000 to four community development projects in Dauphin. These include upgrades to the local arena and the Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre and Museum, as well as support for youth programming offered by Career Trek and the Anishinaabe Agowidiiwinan Secretariat.

New arts and cultural spaces have opened at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School in Swan River. The Government of Manitoba provided $16.6M for the expansion, which includes a new multipurpose room, outdoor teaching area, and an arts and cultural centre with an auditorium and stage.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is eliminating 665 positions and closing seven of its research operations as part of a broader federal government effort to reduce the public service workforce by 15%. One of the satellite research farms closing is in Portage la Prairie.

The Picklr, a U.S.-based pickleball chain, has opened a location in Winnipeg’s Tuxedo Business Park. The facility is the company’s first in Canada, and includes 12 courts and a shop that sells equipment. The Picklr plans to make Winnipeg its national headquarters as it expands in Canada, opening two more locations in the city in the next few years.

The Northern Journalism Training Initiative will close in February 2026, having run out of funding. The Northwest Territories non-profit formed in 2020 to provide intensive training programs to northerners trying to break into the news industry.

The Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq and the Nattivak Hunters and Trappers Organization are providing letters of support for a proposed deep water port in the community. The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation has requested $150M from the federal government for the project’s $350M first phase and hopes to begin construction this year.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced it will close seven of its research operations across Canada, including the research centre in Lacombe, Alberta. The closure is part of the federal government’s 2025 budget cuts. No date of closure has been confirmed.

New/Coming Soon Business Openings: Lamontagne Western Wear (Burnside), Dollarama (Halifax), Dee Dee’s Ice Cream (second location/Halifax), BB.Q Chicken (Halifax), Paris Baguette (Dartmouth Crossing), Fresh Slice (Dartmouth), and Hux Bar & Bistro (Halifax); Closures: Ray’s Lebanese (Bayers Lake) and Vandal Doughnuts (all locations).

Oak Valley Health has eliminated around 18 management and non union staff at Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital

Little Baba by Amal, a Lebanese restaurant, opened on King West in Toronto

Northern College is receiving $2.5M from the provincial and municipal government to support the construction of a 132,000-sq.-ft. sports complex in Porcupine, east of Timmins

St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo is receiving $17.8M to build an addition to the school

TransLink is currently hiring dozens of conventional bus and community shuttle drivers, along with various SkyTrain roles related to safety, engineering, maintenance, and operations. Applications will be accepted until February 9.

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint is opening a new location on Nulelum Way in Tsawwassen.

Heavenly Desserts, a U.K.-based dessert café, has opened a new location on Gorge Road in Victoria.

Lynx Lounge, a pub and restaurant, is opening at Oliver’s Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course on March 14. The new pub has hired and retrained staff from the previous lounge that recently closed in the same location, with plans to hire more employees in the future.

A First Nations led primary care centre has recently opened on the shared territories of the Sq'ewlets and Sts'ailes Nations in Harrison Mills. The Éyameth’ Health Centre will offer various services including primary care, Elder care, mental health support, traditional wellness and healing, and chronic disease management, in addition to housing an on-site pharmacy.

The Government of Manitoba is providing $16.8M to the University of Manitoba for the construction of two new biological research facilities. One will focus on biomanufacturing and vaccine development, and the other on diagnostics research and vaccine testing.

The Government of Manitoba is providing $5M toward a multisport indoor fieldhouse to be built in Portage la Prairie. The project is a partnership between the city and rural municipality along with the Southport Aerospace Centre Inc.

Basic infrastructure upgrades at the Port of Churchill are 40-50% complete and expected to be finished within 1-2 years, according to the Arctic Gateway Group. The company has spent nearly $300M repairing the Hudson Bay Railway since taking ownership of the port and railway in 2018, and continues to work to increase useage of the northern transportation and shipping network.

The City of Portage la Prairie is redeveloping the site of a former youth correctional facility, planning for new housing and a child care centre. Part of the land that once contained the Aggasiz Youth Centre has been used to build a new hospital. The provincial government is providing $1.2M to the city to assist with developing the remaining space.

The Government of Manitoba has welcomed 13 U.S.-trained physicians since 2024, when it opened a special office dedicated to health care recruitment. Eleven of the new doctors are in Winnipeg and the other two are in the Prairie Mountain and Southern Health regions.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced 73 affordable housing units for Métis and First Nations Peoples are now open in Saskatoon. The project received funding from the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, and support from partners Camponi Housing Corporation, SaskNative Rentals and the City of Saskatoon.

According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, nine full-time medical radiation technologist (MRT) positions have been created outside of Saskatoon and Regina since January 2024. Four of these positions remain vacant, with recruiting efforts currently underway. There are also seven vacant part-time MRT positions in Regina, Saskatoon and the new mobile mammogram unit.

The Yukon government is spending about $500,000 this year to reopen major mining roads in 2026, allowing placer miners early access to prepare for the mining and mineral exploration season. More than 300km of roads are included in early-reopening, which last year began on February 28.

The Government of Yukon is launching a new hot lunch pilot program that will serve 850 students in seven schools across the territory. The federal government is funding the initiative as part of its National School Food Program and will also provide $100,000 for kitchen upgrades at Dawson’s Robert Service School.

The Nunavut Employees Union is calling on the Government of Nunavut to reduce its use of privately contracted workers amid a staffing shortage in the territory. About half of nursing jobs are currently unfilled in Nunavut, and the union is requesting more emphasis be placed on recruiting, training, and retaining local workers.

Some family physicians believe that P.E.I.'s new agreement on doctor workloads may drive physicians out of P.E.I. The agreement would require family doctors to see 24 patients a day and have up to 1,600 people on their patient roster.

Porter Airlines will close its crew bases in Halifax in May as the airline consolidates crew bases at Toronto and Ottawa hubs. The crew base closure in Halifax will impact 32 pilots according to the Air Line Pilots Association Local Executive Council 272.

Q Energy France have signed a memorandum of understanding with the N.S. Community College (NSCC) and The Pier research hub in Halifax to collaborate on offshore wind skills training. NSCC currently offers a wind turbine technician course and says it will add more training to meet the industry needs.

Agriculture Agri-Food Canada has confirmed 665 positions will be cut across the country. As part of those cuts, the Nappan Research Farm (Cumberland County) has been given a notice of closure. The facility, which employs 10-15 people, plays an important role in supporting Atlantic Canadian beef and forage industries through research.

The Ville de Sept-Îles is receiving an additional $4M from the Government of Quebec through the Société du Plan Nord for its arena project. The project is currently valued at $78.5M, and it should be completed in the fall of 2026.

Ocean Group, a marine services company based in Québec, is looking to hire around 30 people at its Méchins shipyard. Those hired will join 125 current employees.

Énergir, a natural gas distributor, received a $2.1M contract from the Government of Quebec to design a project that connects its gas infrastructure to the Industrial-port zone of Saguenay

The regional county municipality of Maria-Chapdelaine and the Régie intermunicipale GEANT are receiving over $3.5M from the Government of Quebec to build a new fire station

The Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de Lanaudière is looking to hire several nurses. This decision follows the opening of the Saint-Charles-Borromée and Sainte-Élisabeth residences and the Hôpital Pierre-LeGardeur expansion.

JD Sports, a retailer of shoes and sportswear for men, women, and children, will open a store in downtown Montréal shortly

lululemon, a retailer of high-end technical sportswear, will open a flagship store in downtown Montréal this spring

Algonquin College’s Perth campus will close this summer

Giant Tiger in Burlington will close in March

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is closing its branch in Brussels, north of London in May

Porter Airlines will be closing its crew base in Thunder Bay in May, affecting 54 employees

Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Inc. will be closing its newsprint mill operations, affecting 150 employees

FreshCo has opened a new location in Kitchener

Bronnenco Construction Ltd. will begin building a $2.1M childcare centre in Blyth, Huron County, north of London, creating nearly 44 childcare spaces

Ontario Parks is hiring for 1,600 summer student positions across the province

Restaurant Horin Ramen is opening a new location on No. 3 Road in Richmond.

Baskin Robbins is opening a new location in Richmond’s Lansdowne Centre.

JJ Bean, a local coffee chain, is opening a new location in New Westminster’s Uptown district.

Barra Gitano, a Mexican restaurant, has recently closed its Davie Street location in Vancouver. A new restaurant specializing in Mexican and Canadian fusion cuisine will be opening in its place in early February.

Fügassa, an Italian eatery, is opening a new location in Osoyoos’ Cottonwood Plaza this spring.

Avery Family Farms is closing its vertical lettuce farm in Okanagan Falls on February 1. The closure is due to ongoing financial difficulties and recent critical equipment failures.

Abbotsford Middle School has recently opened a new two-storey building with the ability to accommodate up to 200 more students. The $12M addition features eight new classrooms, an elevator, washrooms, mechanical space, a basketball court, and a playground.

The City of Victoria has received $750K in federal funding to support a new initiative aimed at preventing crime and improving safety among youth under the age of 30. The funding will go towards 19 projects focused on providing employment case management, counselling, recreation programming, and other social services.

Atli Chip LP is closing its wood chip plant in Beaver Cove in March due to ongoing structural changes affecting the coastal forest sector. The company has also noted that the Domtar’s pulp mill closure has significantly reduced the demand for wood chips. Although it is unclear how many jobs will be affected, the plant and related salvaging activities created 25 to 30 full-time jobs in 2024.

The Fort St. John Association for Community Living is opening a new community centre sometime this spring. The centre will offer counselling, health supports, and creative programming, in addition to a small computer lab, an accessible commercial kitchen, and a social enterprise café to support hands-on job and life skills training programs.

The Government of Manitoba is hiring an executive director of AI and data, who will plan for the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools in the public sector. The Province stresses that the technology would not be used to replace workers but to help them work more efficiently.

The Government of Saskatchewan will host the 5th Annual Saskatchewan Indigenous Business Gathering (IBG) on March 4, 2026. The event celebrates Indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, and partnerships that drive economic growth across Saskatchewan. The event will be held at the World Trade Centre Saskatoon at Prairieland Park.

The City of Regina has distributed $1.1M in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Approach to Homelessness to three community groups to improve warming spaces in the city. The funding supports the creation of the new Seven Fires Warming Shelter and expands the hours at Carmichael Outreach and All Nations Hope Network’s Awasiw space.

Gold Terra’s winter 2026 exploration program will include four drills working on the Northbelt: 836 sq. km of land immediately north, south, and east of Yellowknife. The company hopes to advance more gold mining near Yellowknife during a time when the mineral industry is waning in the Northwest Territories.

Cleantek Industries Inc., a Calgary-based provider of patented clean technology solutions in the wastewater management and industrial lighting sectors, has secured an international contract for the supply and installation of up to 60 HALO SE Crown Mount lighting systems. The custom HALO SE Crown Mount systems are scheduled for delivery and installation in 2026.

Obsidian Energy Ltd. is budgeting a 2026 capital program of $190M to $230M to drill 38 wells across its heavy oil operations in the Peace River play and its light oil Willesden Green asset.

The City of Medicine Hat has announced a pilot project for transit services on three statutory holidays in 2026. The project comes in response to requests from riders and was previously approved in the 2025-26 budget.

The County of Grande Prairie has announced the closure of Range Road 115 bridge between Highway 672 (Emerson Trail) and Township Road 730 due to repairs. The project is expected to be completed by May 2026.

The Stettler town council approved amendments to a bylaw allowing for the potential development of AI data centres. Council members are hopeful of the potential benefits of the change which includes economic diversity and employment.

Alstom, a company specializing in rail manufacturing, will create and consolidate 150 jobs in Saint‑Bruno‑de‑Montarville. This decision was made thanks to a $2.3B contract to design new trains.

Alstom, a company specializing in rail manufacturing, will bolster its La Pocatière site thanks to a $2.3B contract. As a result, 130 jobs were created, including around 50 positions that were already vacant. The plant currently employs 500 people.

Jean Coutu, a chain of pharmacies, modernized its location in Gaspé thanks to a $2.5M investment

La Fournée Saint-Félicien, a social agency specializing in food production, invested $1.2M in rehabilitating a new site in the city of the same name. The organization will move to the site in March, and it plans to increase its current 42-employee workforce.

The Coopérative forestière Ferland-Boilleau is suspending operations at the Lac St-Jean sawmill in Métabetchouan—Lac-à-la-Croix for an indefinite period. This decision was made due to unfavourable economic conditions.

The Government of Quebec is investing $3.75M in rehabilitating chemin de la Montagne in Piedmont through the Programme d’aide à la voirie locale

Aeromag is a company specializing in aircraft de-icing that is headquartered in Montréal. The company has invested over $7.5M in integrating artificial intelligence to maximize its operations.

The Ville de Montréal has hired numerous municipal law enforcement officers for street parking. In 2025, 59 people were hired.

The owner of the Old Boot Pub and the Gagetown Marina is looking to retire and to sell off the property. A local group of business owners, residents, and boaters are looking to start a co-op to purchase the property, which is seen as key to the village’s success.

Rising Tide Community is looking to provide more diversity in the housing market and wants to build 250 to 300 housing units, with rents in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. Their hope is to offer affordable housing for those that earn $40K to $60K a year.

The Saugeen Shores Job and Career Fair will take place on February 17 at the Port Elgin Legion

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is hosting a community job fair at GFL Memorial Gardens on February 3

Bier Markt, a bar in Toronto’s St. Lawrence neighbourhood, has closed

The Barrel House, an eatery in Sandwich Town, Windsor has closed

Gator BBQ has opened in Norfolk County

Georgian College is receiving nearly $1M to expand its Centre of Industrial Simulation and Prototyping, as part of the provincial government's $47M investment in 195 research projects at post-secondary institutions and hospitals across Ontario

Royal Grocery Centre has opened in Guelph

The Food Court, a 24-hour cafeteria-style restaurant, has recently opened on No. 3 Road in Richmond on January 21. During its soft opening phase, the restaurant will operate at reduced hours and offer a limited menu.

Dante Italian Sandwich is opening a new location inside the Bentall Centre Mall in downtown Vancouver.

The Food Hall has recently opened in North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay on January 24. The dining hall features indoors and outdoor seating, live entertainment, and various local food vendors.

The City of Penticton is spending $800K to replace the Kiwanis Pier on Okanagan Lake. Work began on January 26 and will include upgrading the landscape, enhancing lighting, and improving accessibility in the area.

The Government of BC has issued an expansion permit for the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine near Fort St. James. The permit will allow the mine to extend operations by seven years to 2035, while continuing to support the existing 574 jobs on site. Additionally, the mine is planning to increase the ore production rate from 60,000 tonnes per day to 66,500 tonnes per day.

The City of North Vancouver, along with the federal and provincial governments, have opened a new 89-unit affordable rental building. The building will feature a family respite centre with 18 overnight beds and 25 adult daycare spaces to be operated by Care BC.

BC Hydro is currently reviewing the proposals received during its second call for power in July 2025. Electricity-purchase agreements will be awarded in the coming months, with projects scheduled to come online between fall 2031 and October 2033. The projects are expected to generate $6B in private investment and create about 1,500 jobs annually during the development and construction phase.

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are making changes to AgriInsurance, reducing premiums for most crops and expanding the coverage for wildlife damage. A new pilot program also offers lower premiums for farmers who adopt more sustainable practices. AgriInsurance provides coverage for drought, extreme weather, pests, and disease.

The federal and provincial governments are renewing funding for the Manitoba Farm Wellness Program, allocating $300,000 over two years to provide counselling services to farmers and their families.

Fresh Forage, a vertical microgreens farm in Winnipeg, is closing at the end of January after nearly a decade in business. The operation is the largest microgreens grower in the province.

Manitoba Hydro is spending $193M to overhaul the IT network that supports its finance, human resources, and supply chain operations. The Crown corporation has posted a request for proposals and aims to have a new system in place by the end of 2026.

The City of Whitehorse is seeking an organization or company interested in developing the site of the former municipal services building in north downtown. The site is zoned for mixed-use commercial and the City expects at least 200 residential units will be part of the development.

Fortune Minerals has completed validation tests at its NICO project in the Northwest Territories, confirming that battery-grade cobalt sulphate can be generated from the deposit. The project includes plans for an open pit and underground mine and concentrator in NWT, as well as a refinery in Alberta.

The Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation is offering home renovation grants to its members in Fort Simpson and is hoping the program might encourage more contractors to set up businesses in the community. About 90 grants of up to $30,000 are available.

Iqaluit’s Northmart store has completed a 10,000-sq-ft. expansion that includes additional grocery space, a lunch counter and salad bar, and a larger deli and bakery. Further renovations will continue this year on the store’s furniture and clothing departments.

Cardinal Energy Ltd. is planning a 2026 capital budget of $75M mostly to drill and complete two wells in its conventional asset base. Additional conventional drilling and completion investment will be dependent on crude oil pricing.

Medicine Hat Economic Development will host a Competency Match pilot program on March 4. The session is designed to help employers effectively evaluate and connect with internationally trained jobseekers. The deadline to register is February 10.

The Government of Alberta has announced a $27M grant to the University of Alberta’s Butterdome. The funding will be used to revitalize and reinforce the building’s exterior. Renovations are set to begin this spring and completed by fall 2027.

The Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) is on track to complete its municipal transition two years ahead of schedule. The GPPS currently has 54 sworn officers, an upcoming graduation in March will bring the total to 70. It is anticipated GPPS officers will be policing the city by October 21, 2026.

Clifford Miller, a contractor, will start a project in mid-March to convert the church in the Frampton municipality into a recreational site. The project represents a $1.2M investment. The site should be operational by the end of the year.

Idolem Yoga is opening a new yoga studio in Trois‑Rivières and recruiting between 12 and 14 instructors

Calgary-based NU E Power Corp. has completed a $1.7M financing round that will be used for final-stage interconnection processes in its Alberta projects, along with other international projects.

Keyera Corp. is partnering with Project Forest and Strathcona County to establish the Keyera Legacy Forest in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. Reforestation activities are expected to begin in fall 2026, with 40,140 native trees and shrubs scheduled for planting in areas that did not naturally regenerate following the 2009 wildfire.

The federal government will spend $10M on a proposed Stratford wellness centre, which has an expected cost of $67M for the first phase of the project. Work is being finalized, but plans are to have a rink, indoor turf field and a youth centre.

The N.S. Government’s new Skills Bridge Initiative will support up to 100 veterans and their family members over the next 3 years to enter the skilled trades. The program runs to October 1, 2028 and offers two streams of support: classroom and leadership training and direct referrals/apprenticeship placements.

An additional 110 beds at Shannex’s transitional care site in West Bedford will begin to take on patients in April. Construction cost is slated to come in at $114M.

The N.B. government is investing $5.8M to go toward upgrading and modernizing CCNB’s Bathurst campus. The project is expected to continue driving innovation and preparing a skilled, adaptable workforce. A new 22,000‑square‑metre facility will also be built.

Creemergency, a mobile medical clinic, is operational in Kapuskasing for evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation, a remote community in Northeastern Ontario

Splitsville Bowl is opening a location at The Shops at Pickering City Centre in the fall

Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited will begin construction on a four-storey, 27-unit Lux Suites hotel in Thunder Bay this spring

The City of Toronto is receiving $24.2M from the federal and provincial governments and partnering with the University Health Network to support Dunn House Phase 2, adding 54 units for at-risk seniors in Parkdale, west of Toronto

Mining company Rio Tinto has renewed a five year partnership with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to fund paid internships and summer student positions at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof. The internships will support four individuals in gaining new on-the-job skills related to white sturgeon recovery initiatives.

Two Manitoba agricultural equipment companies, Enns Brothers Limited and Greenvalley Equipment, have announced they will be merging in a deal expected to close in April. Both companies have John Deere dealerships in rural communities across the province’s southern regions.

Manitoba is facing a shortage of respiratory therapists, with 50 unfilled positions in Winnipeg’s three acute care centres and more still at smaller hospitals. According to the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, staffing has been an issue since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and may worsen further as retirements increase in the coming years.

The Calgary Fire Department has announced that registration for their third Indigenous Firefighting Camp is now open. The camp provides participants with the skills and knowledge required to become a firefighter. The camp runs from May 1 to 3, 2026 and is open to all genders who identify as First Nations, Métis, Urban Indigenous or Inuit. Applicants must be 18 years old before camp begins. The application deadline is February 28, 2026.

Le Rouge Bar closed its nightclub in Montréal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal borough after 23 years in operation

Kanata Central BIA will host a job fair at the Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa Kanata on February 18

Career Fair Canada will host a job fair at the Rogers Centre Ottawa on February 12

Career Edge will be hosting the Quinte West Job Fair on March 5 in Trenton

KEYS Employer and Newcomer Services will be hosting its Annual Job Fair on April 8 in Kingston

Connect to Careers Job Fair will take place on March 3 at the Hamilton Convention Centre

Niagara College will host its annual Career Fair at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus from February 4-6 and the Welland Campus from February 9-11

The annual Youth of Tomorrow Job Fair will take place on February 19 at Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton

Stratford Chefs School's annual job fair will take place on February 2

Concentrix will be hosting a job fair in partnership with CKJobs on February 3 in Chatham

CK Jobs will be hosting a job fair at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre in Chatham on March 4

Red Marrow Media and Northwood Entertainment have begun production on the second season of North of North, a comedy set in a small Arctic community. Filming takes place until April in Iqaluit and Toronto.

Cold Comfort, an ice cream shop, is opening a new location in Victoria’s Rock Bay neighbourhood on January 30.

Ricardo’s, an ice cream shop, is opening a new location on Thurlow Street in downtown Vancouver.

Brathaus, a restaurant specializing in German-style brats, has closed its Gastown location in downtown Vancouver.

Restaurant Ramen Kounotori has closed its Main Street location in Vancouver. Eggstatic, a Toronto-based brunch chain focused on Middle Eastern cuisine, will open in its place.

The City of Vancouver is spending $1.3M to install two new public toilets in Gastown. The washrooms, which will be built in Oregon, will be a cost-effective, low-maintenance, and safe facility for public use, while also addressing the lack of public facilities available for residents and visitors.

The City of Victoria is converting a public works building into a 34-bed shelter for those who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. Individuals moving in will need to receive referrals by an outreach worker. The shelter is currently funded for three years through the province and city and is scheduled to open this spring.

B.C. Hydro and the Nisga'a First Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding to supply 600 megawatts of electricity to the proposed floating LNG facility on Nisga'a Treaty territory. The Ksi Lisims LNG project is expected to be Canada's second-largest LNG facility, generating $30B in investment and creating thousands of skilled careers once operational. Construction is slated to start this summer.

Lighthouse Brewing, an Esquimalt-based craft brewery, is closing on January 25 after operating for 27 years.

The Government of Canada is providing $1.5M to support the Sexual Harassment Advice, Response and Prevention for Workplaces (SHARP Workplaces) project. The initiative will provide BC workers facing workplace sexual harassment with free legal advice and resources to services such as counselling, housing, and employment support.

Marmen Energy, a manufacturer of wind towers, has nearly 150 employees at its Matane plant and plans on hiring more staff

Hôtel Baker, a tourist accommodation business in Gaspé, upgraded its facilities thanks to $3.4M in funding from the provincial government

The Ville de Chandler will reopen its pool at the école polyvalente Mgr-Sévigny by the end of February after a $5.2M renovation

Royer, a boot manufacturer, will close its plant in Lac-Drolet in the spring because it is reorganizing its operations. A total of 47 people will lose their jobs.

Groupe Medway, a real estate developer, is investing $400M in a residential and medical complex project with 896 rental units in Québec. Tisseur, a construction company, will begin the project in the spring, and it will be delivered in 2030.

James Smith Cree Nation has broken ground on the Nicawicikanisihk Wellness project in Saskatchewan. The facility includes a wellness centre and a detox centre that will provide programs including holistic recovery and wellness. The Government of Canada previously announced $42.5M in funding for the project in November 2022. Construction will begin in March, and the centre will open in 2028.

Innovation Saskatchewan has announced $2.4M in new funding for the Innovation & Science Fund, bringing total funding to $5.2M. The funds support emerging research in energy and mining, agriculture, life sciences and critical minerals through the launch of four new program streams. The expanded program will launch April 1, 2026.

The Winnipeg Airports Authority is seeking City of Winnipeg approval to build the water, sewer, and traffic infrastructure that would service a possible WestJet maintenance facility west of the airport. The airline has not made a final decision on the facility, but is considering Winnipeg as a site.

Birchcliff Energy Ltd. is planning a capital budget of $325M to $375M that includes approximately $25M directed towards progressing the development of its Elmworth area. Construction of the Goodfare Gas Plant is expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027.

Pure Saigonese Kitchen is reopening later this month in southwest Calgary.

Two Calgary Co-op grocery store locations are set to close permanently sometime this year.

New public housing in Kentville has been announced that will provide homes for about 100 people through 5 one-bedroom and 25 two-bedroom apartments. Dora Construction has completed preliminary designs and sister company Eastcut is building the modular components in its N.S. facility. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

The Department of National Defence (DND) began construction of its warship test facility in Eastern Passage last November. The project is being overseen by Dartmouth-based PCL Construction. DND expects this work will support about 200 jobs until the end of construction (2028).

Loblaw Companies Ltd. announced it will close the Dominion grocery store in St. John's on May 8. The Memorial Stadium location employs around 100 unionized workers with Unifor. The decision came from an evaluation of its store network, with the company now focussed on bolstering Dominion locations in Cabot Square and Blackmarsh Road.

Moncton city council has approved a master plan for a new neighbourhood called Station Yards that proposes to build up to 4,500 housing units over a 10 to 15 year period. Developers will be able to buy and develop parcels of land in the coming years.

CES Transformers has expanded to a new 160,000sqft facility in Markham, supported by $5.15M in federal government funding and nearly $100M in company investment, creating more than 150 new advanced manufacturing jobs in the region by 2030

Dominion Dynamics raised $21M in seed funding and is hiring for engineering and operational staff in Ottawa and Toronto, with plans to open a new office in Toronto and a 25,000‑sq.‑ft. manufacturing facility in Kanata

Immobilia Rimouski, a company specializing in property management, launched the Campus urbain project. The project involves converting a former bar into 14 housing units in Rimouski. The work is scheduled to be completed in August 2026.

The Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association, a non-profit organization, inaugurated a Consignaction+ site in Rivière-du-Loup

Autoneum Canada Ltd., an automotive parts supplier, is closing its London factory by the end of this year, affecting 136 workers

Emma King Elementary School in Barrie will receive $6.5M from the provincial government to build an addition, creating 184 student spaces

Olive Garden, an Italian‑American restaurant chain, is set to open new locations at Vaughan Mills and in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood this summer

The provincial government is investing $20M to strengthen the economies of rural communities and support infrastructure projects

The federal government is providing hundreds of millions in funding to infrastructure projects Canada's North. While the majority of the funding is for Nunavut, Whitehorse will receive part of the $9.8M dedicated to transit projects, and upgrades in Faro are included in $277M earmarked for water, sewer, and roads. There is also $3M allocated to homelessness response plans in all three territories.

The federal government is providing hundreds of millions in funding to infrastructure projects in Canada's North. While the majority of the funding is for Nunavut, $10M is earmarked for the rehabilitation of the Fort Liard access road in NWT. There is also $3M allocated to homelessness response plans in all three territories.

The federal government is providing hundreds of millions in funding to infrastructure projects in Canada's North, including $94M for power plant upgrades in four Nunavut communities. Three new Nunavut water treatment facilities will also receive a share of $277M dedicated to water, sewer, and road projects. There is also $3M allocated to homelessness response plans in all three territories.

JOJO Pot, a hot pot restaurant, has closed its Kingsway location in Burnaby. A Mexican and Colombian restaurant called Diva’s LatinMex will be opening in its place.

The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce and its development partners are launching a business retention and expansion initiative. The initiative will involve collecting data from local businesses, and sharing the information to better help municipal, regional, provincial, and federal decision-makers form policies around small businesses.

Aitken Community Hospice, a long-term care facility in Courtenay, is reopening three of six hospice beds on February 2. Although a decrease in funding resulted in the facility having to shift its palliative care nurses from hospice to long-term care back in November, the centre has since increased its staffing levels and will be able to operate both the long-term care side and hospice beds.

Kit and Ace, a retail clothing store, is opening a new location on Government Street in downtown Victoria.

North Point Brewing, a North Vancouver-based brewery, is opening a new location on Murray Street in Port Moody this summer. Once open, the new location will feature a tasting room and dog-friendly patio.

The federal government, along with Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society and Squamish Community Housing Society, are allocating over $4.9M to retrofit and upgrade Tantalus Manor, a 40-unit rental home located in Squamish. The upgrades will include replacing windows, doors, energy recovery ventilators, and heat pumps, in addition to converting the building from gas to electrical heat and hot water.

The Government of Canada is providing about $680K to the Richmond Gateway Theatre Society for specialized equipment upgrades. The funding will help support the society’s technical infrastructure retrofitting project by allowing the theatre to upgrade its rigging system, lighting and audio equipment, and electrical work to meet contemporary safety and performance standards.

The Government of Canada is allocating $2.5M to Kelowna-based MAKR Group, a manufacturer specialized in steel components, playground equipment, and water management systems. The funding will go towards implementing a system that will connect smart manufacturing machines to the internet, enabling the company to track real-time operation statuses.

Jardin du Coin, a nursery in Trois-Rivières, is investing $4.5M in an expansion, which will provide job stability in production throughout the year

Maninge Division-Industrie, a company that installs industrial machines, is partnering with the Aluminium development group, a manufacturer of aluminium products, to create an assembly centre of excellence in Drummondville. Twenty-five jobs will be created.

The Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne, a general and vocational college in Montréal, is investing more than $50M in renovating the Ignace-Bourget building

The Municipalité de Nantes will invest at least $2.5M in building a new town hall. The project will begin this year and should be completed by the beginning of next year.

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) allocated $584M to building the Bellechasse bus garage in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough. The large garage is used to park and maintain buses.

Bfly, an entertainment company, will open an immersive amusement centre in Québec in June. This location and a brand new one that opened in Laval represent a $12M investment.

Bfly, an entertainment company, opened an immersive amusement centre in Laval. This location and a new one that will open in Québec in June represent a $12M investment.

The Government of Canada has announced a joint investment of $5.96M with the Government of Saskatchewan to the University of Regina for the construction of a Small Modular Reactor Safety, Licensing, and Testing centre. The new centre will support researchers and businesses to develop new nuclear technologies. The project is expected to create 18 direct jobs and support 10 small businesses.

Three Manitoba transportation networks have signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal and provincial governments, creating a new trade alliance that will collaborate on the movement of goods. The signatories are the Winnipeg Airports Authority, CentrePort Canada, and the Arctic Gateway Group, which owns the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway.

The Rural Municipality of Hanover set new construction records in 2025, with the value of all building permits surpassing its previous record by $26M. Mitchell and Kleefeld were the communities with the most residential construction, while the $12M Green Valley School addition in Grunthal was the highest value project.

Winnipeg startup organizations ProductStak and Launch Coworking have announced a new venture studio. The new project, called Ignition, will provide new businesses with practical support in their early stages.

The City of Winnipeg is seeking an organization to provide 24/7 homeless outreach services, and has allocated $387,275 for the contract. Two non-profit agencies have said the funding offered is inadequate, including Main Street Project, the City’s current homeless outreach provider.

Steinbach Regional Secondary School is partnering with Red River College Polytech to offer a dual-credit health care aide program. The program allows Grade 12 students to earn both high school and college credits, and is meant to address a shortage of health care aides in the region.

Prospera Energy Inc. has raised $3.0M that it will use to finance activities at its Luseland and Cuthbert assets in Saskatchewan. The work will focus on bringing previously shut-in heavy-oil wells back on production, targeted workovers and optimization activities on shut-in wells, and some mechanical pumping upgrades.

Helium Evolution Incorporated is partnering with North American Helium Incorporated, both based in Calgary, to execute a 3D seismic program in the Grasslands/Mankota area in Saskatchewan. Pending seismic results, the partners anticipate starting a drilling program as early as Q3 2026.

REV Exploration Corp. has raised $5.8M that will be used in part for near-term (Q1 2026) drilling of its flagship Aden Dome Project in southeast Alberta along the Montana border. The Aden Dome is considered highly prospective for Natural Hydrogen and associated gases, and is located along a geological belt that extends from Saskatchewan into Montana.

Keyera Corp. has shut down its Alberta Envirofuels facility near Edmonton due to an unexpected component failure. The plant is expected to resume operations in May 2026. Keyera plans to complete the previously planned six-week major turnaround, scheduled for fall 2026, during the current outage period, eliminating the need for a separate shutdown later in the year.

Amihan Grill + Bakeshop is set to open another location in southeast Calgary next month.

Pho Pham restaurant is set to open another location in Calgary.

The City of St. Albert has announced its Development Accelerator Program. The program is offering a total of $8M in development incentives for the Lakeview Business District. The developments are expected to bring an increase in jobs and private sector investments for various industries.

The Government of Alberta has announced a $2M investment to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. The investment is matched by a $2M contribution from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. The project will fund the expansion of the inpatient tower and a new research centre. The planning process is currently underway for the project.

The Town of Three Rivers states that 2025 was a strong year with a total of 220 projects approved, worth over $60M in estimated construction value. Residential growth accounted for 78% of the applications, but the area has also seen industrial growth.

The Groves at Hillsdale, a modular home community in Amherst, will have 47 affordable homes when complete, with 28 of them to be sold under a shared ownership model between the buyer and United Way Maritimes – the first of its kind for the province. Twelve units are complete and will be occupied by February 1.

The new Gander Community Health Centre, a family care and mental health and addictions facility, is expected to open later in January. Most of the roughly 50 staff members were recruited locally, but positions including a nurse practitioner and a family physician, are still being actively recruited.

Hôtel‑Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor has launched a new recruitment campaign aimed at attracting and retaining employees

Dhoom, an Indian restaurant, opened in Toronto`s Greektown neighbourhood

Mining exploration company, Snowline Gold, has signed an agreement with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun which is meant to ensure full consent before a new mine is developed. For several years the company has been exploring a gold deposit 200km east of Mayo that could support a mine with a lifespan of 20 years.

A Yellowknife resident has obtained a license from the City to build a community greenhouse and is seeking funding from the territorial government for the $3M facility. The project would be built in the Kam Lake industrial area and include solar panels, as well as potentially geothermal heating.

The number of cruise ship visits to Nunavut communities has increased in recent years, from 59 in 2023 to 76 in 2025. Since 2019, the territorial government has offered a two-week training program that prepares Nunavut residents for careers as cruise ship guides.

BBQ & Co, a Cantonese barbecue restaurant, is opening a new location on Cambie Street in Vancouver.

Winnipeg reported a 12.3% increase in housing starts in 2025 compared to the previous year, the second highest annual total in the city’s history and more than twice the Canadian average. However, the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg says there needs to be more emphasis on affordable housing.

Genoa Design International, a Mount Pearl-based digital design and 3D modeling firm, has been sold to Nova Scotia-based Membertou First Nation and Horizon Naval Engineering. The partnerhip aims to prioritize expansion within the marine sector.

The $9.86M Treasure Hill Soccer Centre, an indoor soccer dome in Vaughan’s North Maple Regional Park has opened

Construction has begun on the $25M Welton Hospice Palliative Care Centre in Mississauga, which is expected to open in late 2027

Yukon First Nations is partnering with national charity MakeWay to launch an $800,000 grant program. Funding is available to First Nations, non-profits, and individuals planning cultural and wellness projects such as harvesting programs and land-based camps.

Baohaus Dumpling & Drinks, a handmade dumpling restaurant, is opening a new location on Kingsway in Burnaby.

Pho Capital, a Vietnamese restaurant, is opening a new location on Hollybridge Way in Richmond. Work is currently underway, with the opening scheduled for this winter.

The City of Surrey is building a new overpass above Highway 99 in South Surrey. The $28.75M overpass will feature four vehicle lanes and will involve installing new traffic signals and streetlights, in addition to building a new water main crossing. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2026, with completion expected by December 2027.

Telus has begun construction on a new low-rise, mixed-use residential and commercial building located in Vancouver’s West Point Grey Village. The building will feature 55 market rental homes on the upper floors, while retail and restaurant units will be built on the ground floor.

A new supportive cancer care centre has opened in downtown Kamloops on January 14. The centre will provide cancer patients and their families with free programs and services such as exercise therapy, nutrition support, counselling, and stress management. A physician referral is not required.

A six-bed hospice facility has opened in Winkler, offering end-of-life services as well as care for those awaiting placement in nursing homes. Pembina Valley Hospice House will employ 24 staff, including health care aides, housekeepers, kitchen workers, and administrative staff.

The vacancy rate for nurses at the Swan River emergency department is currently 50%, according to Prairie Mountain Health. The Manitoba Nurses Union says the problem has been worsened by the provincial government’s recent decision to end most of its contracts with private nursing agencies. The Province says it expects staffing to improve as nurses move to the four remaining agencies under contract.

The Brandon Police Service has hired three full-time mental health clinicians to help the force respond to incidents where someone is in crisis. The new crisis response unit was launched in the fall of 2025 and also includes two police officers. The Province is providing $290,000 annually to fund its work.

The Community Foundation of P.E.I.’s 2025 Vital Signs report shows that P.E.I.’s rapid population growth has put pressure on public services and infrastructure. There has been a growing need for housing and 27% of Islanders don’t have a health-care provider.

New/Coming Soon Business Openings: NAPA Auto parts (Bayers Lake), The Egg Villa (Halifax), Buttercream Café (Halifax), Watermark (Peggy’s Cove) and Edo Japan (Sackville); Closures: Smittys (Halifax), SpiceHub (Dartmouth) Bluenotes (Dartmouth), La Cucina (Dartmouth Crossing), and Coffee Pro (Bedford).

Northern College will be hosting a veterinary science career fair in Haileybury, north of North Bay, on March 4

RUDY, a burger chain, will open a location in Oakville in February

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has opened a new Rosie’s Burgers location in Waterloo

Healthy Planet Corp. will open a location in Shoppers World Brampton

North Bay Regional Health Centre and Mattawa Hospital received over $11M, in addition to previously announced $15M from the provincial government to support operations and bed capacity

The Ottawa Jazz Festival, Folk Canada, and the Ottawa Children’s Festival will receive $530K from the federal government to support arts programming and festival activities in Ottawa

The provincial government is investing an additional $700M to help 127 municipalities and First Nations communities across Ontario upgrade and expand aging water and wastewater infrastructure

The Government of Yukon has extended the pause on its microgeneration program. The program, which began in 2013, compensated participants who connected their renewable energy systems to the grid. It was paused in 2023 due to outages caused by surplus energy, but the government says it is currently studying ways to restart the program without compromising grid stability.

The Government of Yukon and Standard Bus Yukon are taking steps to improve school bus services in the territory. This includes 14 new buses with updated cold-weather technology for the 2025-2026 school year. Recruitment of new bus drivers is ongoing, and Standard Bus is offering bonuses of $2,000 for qualified drivers and $1,000 for those who still require training.

Holistic Counselling and Rehab Services has received a development permit from the City of Yellowknife to convert a home on Calder Crescent into a recovery residence. The plan is for the space to accommodate four tenants on a temporary basis while they are participating in off-site programming.

The community of Cambridge Bay is planning to build a new youth centre, replacing a building that burned down in 2022. The hamlet is close to awarding the construction contract, supported by $6M in municipal, territorial, and federal funding, along with contribution from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. The facility is scheduled to open by the end of 2027.

Cozy Carrots, a bunny lounge akin to cat cafes, is opening its first location on Minoru Boulevard in Richmond on January 24.

Qieu Café, a Vietnamese restaurant, has recently closed its Abbott Street location in Vancouver’s Chinatown-Gastown neighbourhood. Another restaurant, Hestia Hearth, is expected to open in its place.

Burdy, an Italian sandwich shop, is opening a permanent location in Vancouver’s Granville Island after recently selling its food truck. Construction will start in February, and the store is expected to be open by late spring.

Uchu, a Peruvian cevicheria and raw bar, is opening a new location in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood on February 6.

Okanagan College is closing its student-led restaurant, Infusions, and replacing it with a new restaurant that will feature a café and sit-down service. Culinary students will obtain hands-on training in local restaurants over the next 18 months while the new facility is under construction. The new restaurant is scheduled to open in Fall 2027.

The District of Port Hardy has partnered with Island Health to build ten new homes for healthcare workers, aiming to strengthen recruitment efforts in bringing back 24-hour emergency services to the region.

The City of Victoria has begun construction on a portion of Blanshard Street between Caledonia Avenue and Kings Road. The upgrades, which are part of an ongoing road improvement project, will include expanding the road and improving the bike lane network. Work is expected to last until January 25, with the entire project scheduled for completion by this summer.

The City of Victoria will begin construction on the Bay Street Bridge starting February 9. The project will involve replacing the main deck joint that allows the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes, in addition to improving the drainage system that runs underneath. Work will last for four months and will partially disrupt traffic heading east during this time.

The Regional District of Nanaimo has approved a $5.2M project to replace and create two new bridges across Thatcher Creek and the Nanaimo River. The project will proceed in phases, with construction slated for 2028.

The BC government has signed a letter of intent with the state government of Karnataka, India’s largest innovation centre, to boost collaboration in life sciences and technology. The initiative is expected to strengthen the province’s economy by diversifying trade and investment relationships and creating new opportunities for BC’s emerging sectors.

Topla!, a restaurant chain that specializes in pasta, opened a location in Trois-Rivières on January 20. Twenty-two jobs were created.

The Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Rouyn-Noranda inaugurated a 3D printing lab. The Desjardins Group provided $500,000 in funding, and Canada Economic Development provided $900,000 in funding.

The Marché Girardville, a grocery store in the municipality of the same name, is investing more than $2.5M in expanding its site and building a processing plant thanks to more than $1.8M in provincial support. Construction is scheduled to be completed by May 2026.

Three municipalities in the Bellechasse riding will receive more than $3.2M from the Government of Quebec to improve the local and municipal transportation network. Among others, the Municipalité de Sainte-Claire will receive over $2.1M in funding.

Apple, an American multinational that makes and markets electronic products, relocated its business to a new location, which is still in downtown Montréal. Approximately 200 employees work there.

Bombardier, a company that builds business aircraft, will begin construction on a new $100M plant in Dorval. The provincial government is contributing to the project. The facility is expected to open before the end of 2027, and the company will be hiring 330 people.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, a federal agency, plans on cutting more than 600 positions, including 45 managers, within three years

The Government of Canada has announced $11M in funding through the Universal Broadband Fund to support the development of four high-speed internet projects. These projects will expand high-speed internet to over 1.9K households across 28 rural and remote communities in Saskatchewan.

The Government of Manitoba is spending $235M to build an interchange at the Perimeter Highway and Provincial Trunk Highway #3. The project, which will include a four-lane divided highway and two-lane overpass, is expected to begin construction this spring and be completed by 2030.

The John Howard Society of Brandon’s $11M transitional housing complex will open to residents in February. The 24-unit residence will employ 20-25 staff and provide support to men re-entering the community after incarceration or transitioning out of homelessness.

Sergio’s Pasta recently opened in Winnipeg, employing four staff and offering customizable pasta meals for takeout or delivery. It currently operates out of a commercial kitchen but is seeking a space for a dine-in restaurant.

Stella’s, a Winnipeg restaurant chain, is opening a café inside the EQ3 store at CF Polo Park in February. Stella’s employs about 300 people and runs seven restaurants and a bistro in Winnipeg. A joint bistro and café is planned for the city's Corydon Avenue neighbourhood in March.

DRTY Ice Cream is opening its second location this month in downtown Edmonton.

The renovations and upgrades to École Sainte-Catherine in Lac La Biche are expected to be completed by the end of January.

A Lethbridge seniors' woodworking shop is set to reopen January 22, 2026.

Repairs to Calgary’s Bearspaw feeder main are now complete, service has been restored, and water restrictions have been lifted. The Bearspaw feeder main was under repairs since it broke on December 30, 2025.

Statistics Canada reports that P.E.I. potato production was down in 2025, after the Island experienced a record drought last summer. The yield from P.E.I. fields was about 18% less on average, while potato prices have also dropped, resulting in lower revenue.

A new tariff-quota deal between Canada and China to temporarily suspend 25% tariffs on Canadian lobster and crab is being received positively in N.S., where the value of live lobster exports to China total approximately $430-450M annually. The dollar value of exports has decreased by an estimated 25-30% since the tariffs were originally introduced.

The N.S. Community College has tweaked its program offerings in response to demographic and labour market changes that included a significant drop in international students over the past year. Suspended or reduced program offerings at specific campuses include horticulture, professional photography, baking and pastry arts, business administration, cosmetology and tourism hospitality, while certain trades and nursing programs will be expanded.

A new trade deal with China will see the elimination of the 25% tariff on Canadian lobster and crab. N.B. exported $72.9M of lobster to China in 2023, which dropped to $36.2M in 2024. The U.S. bought $844.7M of N.B. lobster in 2024.

Saint John police officers will receive a 15.42% wage increase over three years after an arbitration board settled their contract. First-class constables will be paid about $120,700 as of Jan. 1, 2026, and will see higher meal and on-call allowances.

Emerald Hills Golf Club will host a hiring fair at its Stouffville location on February 21

Durham Region Automotive Job Fair will take place in Oshawa on February 4

Springboard will host a job fair at the Toronto Public Library Cedarbrae Branch in Markham on February 17

Durham college will host a career fair for positions in law enforcement at its campus in Oshawa on March 9

Global Events Canada will host a career fair for positions in healthcare and social work at Toronto Metropolitan University on June 19

Hire Canada will host a job fair and training expo at the Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East on March 25

Canada Job Expo will host a job fair at the North York Memorial Hall on March 4

Career Fair Canada will host a job fair at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton on March 5

The City of Vaughan is hosting a Youth Careers Expo at the Father E. Bulfon Community Centre on March 2

Seneca College will host a career fair at its King Campus in Toronto on February 5

Seneca College will host a career fair at its Newnham Campus in Toronto on February 5

Prenup Pub in Toronto`s Discovery District is closing in February

Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto is receiving $7M from the provincial government to upgrade its Children’s Garden, three restored heritage buildings and the outdoor commons

Jack’s Pancake Factory will open in Guelph this February

Canadore College and Nipissing University in North Bay received $6.2M in funding from the provincial government to renovate and upgrade its facilities

Planet Fitness opened a 17,000-sq.-ft. location in Barrie

Alstom’s Ontario facilities will receive nearly $242M in additional federal and provincial investment to support 55 Toronto subway trains, creating 285 jobs

Yellowknife will host the Still Dark Festival in February, a four-day celebration of music that will include 22 bands at seven downtown venues. The event is hosted in partnership with Music NWT and includes both local acts and performers from southern Canada.

Rori Momo, a Korean-Japanese restaurant, has permanently closed its Davie Street location in downtown Vancouver on January 15.

Toys ‘R’ Us has closed its Willowbrook Shopping Centre location in Langley on January 13. This marks the closure its last BC location after the company closed three other stores across Metro Vancouver in the previous year.

Little Flower Childcare, a daycare located in West Sechelt, is closing in August 2026 as its lease will not be renewed. Although the daycare is looking to secure a new location, it has yet to find a suitable place.

Team Collectors, a trading card store, has recently opened a new location in Richmond’s Parker Place Mall on January 3.

The Okanagan Manufacturing Network, a new regional association aimed at strengthening the Okanagan manufacturing sector, has recently launched. Local manufacturers, economic development professionals, and supporters can connect through their online portal, with memberships currently being offered for free.

The Government of Canada is providing $960K over three years to Okanagan’s En'owkin Centre, a society promoting Indigenous knowledge and systems. The funding will go towards a two-year professional development program for Indigenous artists, providing them with interdisciplinary training and mentorship opportunities aimed at advancing their careers and revitalizing traditional Indigenous arts.

Work to replace the PKOLS (Mt Douglas Park) summit telecommunications tower in Victoria has begun on January 19. The current tower, which is over 20 years old, needs replacement as the aging infrastructure no longer fits federal regulatory standards.

Domtar recently held a job fair in North Cowichan to help Crofton pulp workers affected by the upcoming mill closure. Several local agencies took part in the fair, with some companies already extending job offers to Crofton employees. A second info session is also scheduled for January 27, where assistance with resume writing, job searching, and employment insurance help will be provided.

Three BC-based businesses and universities are developing two new agricultural training programs and a smart-farming system with support from the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation. A total of $658K will be invested in the projects, which will include creating an automated farming system and training programs focused on dry farming and robotic-weeding technologies.

The Government of Canada is allocating $6M to Semiahmoo First Nation to support infrastructure improvements aimed at facilitating future housing development. The funding will go towards extending the community’s water and wastewater systems, building roads, and installing other utility services.

Alimentation Vincent Guay, a Metro- branded grocery store, is investing $6.6M in becoming a Super C in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac. The project will create 15 jobs and bring the team up to 85 people. The store is scheduled to open in March.

The Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Gaspésie is facing a shortage of 47 nurses, which is undermining obstetric services, among others, in the region

Groupe Rémabec, a logging company, is restarting its Arbec plants in Trois-Rivières, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac

Arbec Lumber, a division of Groupe Rémabec, resumed operations at its sawmill in L'Ascension-de-Notre-Seigneur in January after a temporary shutdown, which began in December

The Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) is seeking around 50 firefighters to fill vacancies at various bases across the province

Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut is investing $8M in its Saint-Hyacinthe plant, which will help the company expand the site and modernize operations. In total, 500 people work at that location.

The Centre de services scolaire Marie-Victorin, in collaboration with the Université du Québec à Montréal, will open an elementary school in Brossard for the 2026 school year

Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium is cutting around 30 management positions after restructuring its plant in Sorel-Tracy

The Cégep de Sept-Îles inaugurated the Rio Tinto IOC Research and Innovation Pavilion. The governments of Quebec and Canada as well as several private partners contributed financially to the project of more than $40M.

The Municipalité de Saint-Urbain is investing nearly $4.5M in carrying out work on its road network thanks to a contribution of more than $3M from the Government of Quebec

VELYON, a real estate developer, has started the Hector residential project with 271 rental condos in Laval. The first tenants will move in by the spring of 2027. More than $96M was invested in the project.

The Government of Manitoba is providing a total $33,000 in grants to law enforcement agencies in the Parkland Region, which will be used for equipment, uniforms, and training. The Province is also providing $35,000 to the Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter.

Construction has begun on Railside at the Forks, the first residential development at the historic site in downtown Winnipeg. The two-year first phase includes nine apartment blocks and a condo building for a total of 350 units, including some affordable housing. The development will total 1,200 units when complete in 2040.

Edmonton-based Stantec, a global design and engineering company, has been named as a preferred bidder to be a primary designer for the multibillion-pound Scottish Water Enterprise. Stantec will provide design and technical services throughout the construction process through to 2039.

Lethbridge County has announced a bridge replacement project northeast of Lethbridge. Alternate routes have been provided. The project will commence mid-January with expected completion mid-February.

Despite the N.B. government’s desire to see the Picadilly mine outside Sussex re-open for potash mining operations, the prairie-based owner has no current plan to do that. The province is awaiting details from Nutrien on what it would take to re-open the mine.

The N.B. government is contributing $6M toward completion of a $36M modern recreation and community complex in Rothesay. The complex will incorporate the Rothesay Arena, which is being renovated. The aim is to break ground in April 2026 and open in 2028.

Propair, a new airline, will begin flying out of the Bathurst Regional Airport on January 31. The airline will offer multiple flights to Montreal and Quebec City, with plans to add more. Air Canada has announced that it will stop service to Bathurst.

CBC News is increasing its rural staffing, creating 11 news bureaus across the country. These includes two Manitoba sites, in Flin Flon and Selkirk/Interlake Region. Additionally, CBC has added a second journalist to each of its one-person bureaus in Brandon and Steinbach.

CBC News is increasing its rural staffing, creating 11 news bureaus across the country. These includes two Yukon sites, in Dawson City and Haines Junction.

The federal government will invest over $850K in 14 Indigenous economic development projects across Northern Ontario

Domtar Corporation will shutdown operations at its Ignace sawmill in March, affecting 25 employees

Capture Health, a new cardiology clinic, will open this spring at the Blenheim Health Hub

Voltera Inc. in Waterloo and Blake Medical Group Inc. in Brantford are receiving $3.5M from the federal government to advance manufacturing capabilities

The provincial government is investing up to $8M to support planning for 16 new and expanded primary care teaching clinics across Ontario with expected openings in 2027–28

Aid organization Cuso International is offering micro-grants to youth in Ndilo who want to spearhead their own local projects. Funding of up to $5,000 is available for projects, which could be related to arts, culture, education, or other community development initiatives.

North Island College is suspending 15 programs from its curriculum starting September 2026. The affected programs include various certificate and diploma courses in fields such as business administration, digital design, and coastal forestry.

Nonbiri Café is opening a new location on No. 3 Road in Richmond.

OneZo Tapioca, a bubble tea store, has closed its West Broadway location in Vancouver on January 15.

Restaurant Ramen Kounotori has recently closed its Main Street location in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

The City of Port Moody is set to begin the final phase of the redevelopment of Inlet Park, which includes building a community fieldhouse. The $13.05M project will begin constructing the fieldhouse this month, with work expected to last for about 18 months. The three-storey facility will feature changerooms, universal washrooms, multipurpose rooms, and an outdoor covered viewing deck.

Arca Climate Technologies Inc., an industrial mineralization company, and Giga Metals Corporation, a Canadian mining company, have entered into a 10-year agreement allowing Arca to assess the use of tailings and waste rock from the Turnagain Nickel Project in northern BC to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The site is expected to produce about 1.3 billion tonnes of ultramafic material once mining starts.

Fresh St. Market, a grocery store, is opening a new location on 4th Avenue in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.

The Government of Canada is providing funding top-ups to two streams under Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy in Kelowna. The Central Okanagan Foundation will receive $3.9M to fund projects aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness, while the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society will receive $2M to enhance Indigenous-focused services.

The Huntingdon riding, which includes this municipality and the Godmanchester, Sainte-Barbe and Ormstown municipalities, is receiving $5.4M from the Government of Quebec to maintain its road network

Neoen, a Paris-headquartered renewable energy company, has announced the start of the Mino Giizis Solar Energy Facility project in the Rural Municipality of Lajord, southeast of Regina. Construction will begin in early 2027 and is expected to require 350 workers. The facility is expected to be operational in 2028 and will produce enough energy to power 30K family homes.

The City of Winnipeg is seeking a contractor to conduct a feasibility study on implementing a thermal energy system for Graham Avenue. The downtown street and former bus corridor has been closed to vehicle traffic and the City is exploring redevelopment options.

Diageo is spending $19M to upgrade the energy systems at its Crown Royal distillery in Gimli, replacing its natural gas boilers with renewable electricity. Manitoba Hydro will begin construction this month on a new 20km transmission line to service the plant, with completion expected for 2027.

Construction is complete on the new hospital in Portage la Prairie, which is scheduled to open to patients in fall 2026. The 275,000-sq-ft. facility includes 114 acute care beds and will offer surgical, rehabilitation, and birthing services.

The Toys “R” Us location on Winnipeg’s St. Matthews Avenue is permanently closing, though no information has yet been given on the closing date or number of employees affected. The toy retailer closed 38 stores in 2025 and has just one location remaining in Winnipeg, on Regent Ave W.

International Petroleum Corporation has started commercial operations at its Blackrod thermal oil sands facility in Alberta. The project has regulatory approval to produce up to 80,000 barrels per day. Blackrod is in the initial heating stages with the first oil production anticipated by the end of September 2026.

Lacombe County has announced the construction of a trail around Gull Lake. The 3-phase project is set to begin early this spring.

Shared Services Canada, a federal department, has started to cut 477 positions as part of a workforce adjustment across the country

In 2026, investors will open seven restaurant franchises in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Two L’Oeufrier locations, Crèmerie Chez Mamie and Topla! will open in Saguenay. Another Topla! location will also open in Alma.

Jack Le Coq, a fast-food chain, is opening a location in Saguenay's Chicoutimi borough. As a result, 35 jobs will be created. The company will be opening a second location soon in Alma.

The 2026 Salon de l'emploi Charlevoix will take place at the Domaine Forget in Saint-Irénée on March 28. Job seekers will be able to discover the job opportunities offered by companies in the region.

The Ville de Nicolet is starting construction on the Station du Domaine residential project, valued at $8.6M. The first apartments of the project, which total 52, will be available in the summer of 2026.

Statistics Canada, a federal agency, plans to cut more than 850 jobs, including a dozen management positions across the country

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has signed a franchise agreement for a Heal Wellness restaurant location in Shawnessey Village in Calgary, with an expected opening in Q2 2026.

Ellis and Birt Ltd. have asked the City of Charlottetown to rezone a piece of property along Mount Edward Road in order to build three apartment buildings, totalling 87 units. The proposed development would have to undergo public consultation then council debate.

Health critics are urging the P.E.I. government to add more long-term care beds. The province is planning to add more than 200 beds, but tenders haven’t been awarded yet. There are currently 20 public and private care homes with 1,325 beds across the Island.

The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is receiving $1.3M from the provincial government to expand its home-care program

The Pryde Aquatic and Wellness Centre opened this month in the Town of Saugeen Shores

The federal government is investing $4M in partnership with the provincial government to establish a new regional drug enforcement team, in addition to providing $1M to the Peel Regional Police to support operations

Alamos Gold Inc., is hiring for nearly 100 positions across Canada

The provincial government is investing $242M to upgrade learning facilities at publicly funded colleges and universities across Ontario

The City of Weyburn is adopting a taxi bylaw to introduce licensing, inspections, and record checks. This bylaw is aimed at improving public safety and standardizing fares. It applies immediately to new operators but will give existing operators a grace period.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie has received nearly $23M from the federal government for the $57M West End Treatment Plant project, construction is expected to begin in 2027

The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, a First Nations police service in Northern Ontario, has hired 15 officers

Liquidation Marie, a chain of discount grocery stores, will open new locations in Saint-Roch-de-l’Achigan and Joliette by February 25

In March, the Office d'habitation du Sud des Appalaches will inaugurate 36 affordable housing units in Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley for families and single individuals. The $13.5M project is being funded at the provincial and municipal levels and by the Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

Waga Energy Canada, a green energy producer, is receiving $15M from the Government of Quebec for its renewable gas production project in Hébertville-Station. The project is due to be launched in early 2027, which will create around 15 jobs.

The municipalities of the Lotbinière-Frontenac riding will receive nearly $9.5M from the Government of Quebec to improve the local and municipal transportation network. Among others, the Ville de Thetford Mines will receive over $3.7M in funding.

Developers are investing $1.3M in building five housing units in Saint-Urbain. The project will begin in January, and it will be carried out by general contractor Construction Rosaire Guay et Fils.

Domtar, a logging company, is suspending operations indefinitely at its Outardes sawmill in Baie-Comeau. As a result, 186 direct jobs and 160 indirect jobs will be lost.

Sula Café, a local Indian restaurant chain, recently held a soft opening for its new location in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

The City of Victoria, along with the federal and provincial governments are allocating over $50M in combined funding to build an additional 77 homes for independent seniors and families at 8 Chown Place. The homes will be owned and operated by The Gorge View Society.

The Municipality of North Cowichan, along with the federal and provincial governments are allocating over $65M in combined funding to build 92 affordable co-op housing units in the region. The project is expected to be completed in early 2028 and will be owned and operated by the Community Land Trust.

The Government of British Columbia is receiving over $345K in federal funding to increase access to French health services in the province. The funding will help improve health services for the Francophone communities by enhancing digital health platforms and allowing patients to select their preferred official language.

NU E Power Corp. is moving ahead with two solar generation projects in the County of Lethbridge— Lethbridge Two (12 MW) and Lethbridge Three (155 MW) — representing a combined 167 MW of fully permitted renewable energy capacity. Both projects are covered under a fully granted Alberta Utilities Commission permit issued in December 2024.

Total Energy Services Inc. is budgeting $55.8M in 2026 capital for equipment maintenance and re-certifications, the construction of a new service rig to be deployed in Australia and growth of its North American natural gas compression fleet. The Australian service rig is expected to be completed and start operations by Q2 2027 under a long-term contract.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing over $2M in grants to 80 road safety projects across 78 communities. The funding aims supports traffic safety improvements such as speed bumps, speed display signs, and emergency stop lights. Applications are open for the next round of funding focused on priorities like speeding, impaired driving, and intersection safety.

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are spending $9.7M to support crop research in Saskatchewan, in addition to $3.2M from 13 industry partners. The funding includes $7.2M for 39 new projects through the Agriculture Development Fund and $2.5M through the Strategic Research Initiative to study herbicide-resistant kochia and wild oats.

The P.E.I. government will spend $1.67M over four years to support skills training and employment for Indigenous Peoples. It includes development of transferable skills through mentorship and hands-on experience, as well as a Workforce Essential Skills program.

The Canadian Coast Guard is planning to build a new maintenance facility in Sydney to service two new icebreakers that are now under construction. It is expected to be built near the Canadian Coast Guard Academy on land owned by Membertou First Nation in the Sydport industrial park.

Halifax Regional Municipality’s 2-year community-based crisis response team pilot project launched last fall serving the Dartmouth area will soon expand to a 24-hour service. The project runs with a staff of 17 people and is an alternative model to police to support people in distress. Souls Harbour Rescue Mission provide offer in-person support.

Memorial University is reducing its executive team of vice-presidents from seven to three positions with provost and vice-president (academic), vice-president (finance and administration) and vice-president (research and innovation) remaining. The role of vice-president advancement and external relations and vice-provost (Labrador Campus) have been eliminated.

The number of retired teachers working as substitutes in N.L. schools has soared in the last decade with about 1,700 substitutes currently on the list for NL Schools, about 600 of which are retirees. That compares to only 61 retiree substitutes 10 years ago. The lack of substitute teachers is felt most acutely in rural areas but still impacting urban centres.

The Doak Road area of Fredericton is set to go before city council as part of a plan to develop the 148-hectare area to become a new neighbourhood for up to 7,000 residents by 2046. The plan includes diverse housing types, as well as commercial components.

A 72-unit affordable housing project led by the Atlantic Community Housing Ltd has been approved by Saint John councillors to be built in the city's north end. Construction of the four buildings will be modular and is expected to be completed in 2027.

Port Saint John has completed $247M in infrastructure upgrades, such as new cranes, an additional berth, a deepened and widened channel, and improved storage and transportation capabilities. The port will soon have a $80M huge cold-storage facility as well.

Hôtel L’Empress, a tourist accommodation in Rimouski, is carrying out a $3M expansion project to add 18 rooms in a neighbouring building. The work is scheduled to be completed in June 2026.

Must Urbain Rimouski, a developer and property manager, is carrying out a project valued at over $4M to convert a former armoury into 27 housing units. The units are scheduled to be delivered on July 1, 2026.

Greenspace Construction Inc. was awarded a $9.47M Rouge Beach and Marsh Improvement project in the Greater Toronto Area

The Malvern Family Resource Centre will receive over $1.16M from the federal government to support its five-year project to prevent crime and help youth in Toronto’s Malvern and Scarborough neighbourhood

The South Gate Centre in Woodstock, has completed it's $9M expansion with funding from the City of Woodstock and community donors

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $2.19M to nine industry-led research and development projects through the Saskatchewan Advantage Innovation Fund and Agtech Growth Fund. The funds will help new tech companies by reducing risk and accelerating commercialization of technologies.

Highwood Asset Management Ltd. is planning to drill 1-3 additional wells in the first quarter of 2026 in the Basal Belly River Horizon at its Wilson Creek operation, pending market developments.

The Brass Monkey, a bar and live-music venue in Ottawa, has closed

Kemptville District Hospital is set to close its 12-bed Interim Long-Term Care and Convalescent Care Programs unit by the end of June

Moxie's Grill & Bar closed its location in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Cookeys, a bakery and café will open in midtown Toronto in February

The redevelopment of Belmont House in Toronto is underway, adding an 11-storey building with 168 long-term care beds, scheduled for completion by fall 2028

The Government of Quebec is investing $6M in supporting farmers near Saint-Pierre lake between Sorel-Tracy and Trois-Rivières with implementing more environmentally-friendly methods aimed at limiting the degradation of water and natural environments

Womance, a women's clothing and accessories store, will open a location at the Place Ste-Foy mall in Québec in April

The Centre de services scolaire des Grandes-Seigneuries is currently building the École de formation professionnelle de Châteauguay. Construction, which began in March 2024, should be completed by the spring of 2026.

The École nationale de police du Québec in Nicolet eliminated four psychologist positions and five evaluation advisor positions

The Ville de Montréal will recruit additional school crossing guards thanks to a budget of more than $17M, which the City will allocate in 2026

Various boroughs, out of a potential of 19 across the city of Montréal, hired 40 people

The Ville de Montréal eliminated 65 positions with the goal of cutting 1,000 jobs in its administration

Cro Magnon is not only a butcher, but also a bakery and café with Lebanese cuisine. The company has expanded by adding a larger location in Laval, where 19 employees work.

Persian BBQ has opened a restaurant location on Denman Street in Vancouver’s West End. The location had previously housed Burger Zoghali, a North Vancouver-based burger place, before it closed recently over winter.

The Government of Canada is allocating $49M to rebuild the Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver. The project aims to make the hatchery more interactive and modernize the facility, designing it to withstand changing climate challenges and bringing it up to current seismic standards. Demolition of the public-facing building will begin this summer and fall.

Chipotle is opening a new location on Davie Street in downtown Vancouver on January 15.

Demolition of the former Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver tower has begun, with crews dismantling the building from the top down. Although Cadillac Fairview, the company that owns the building, plans to develop a new tower which includes a hotel, no specific proposal has been submitted yet.

The City of Abbotsford, along with the provincial government and BC Transit are partnering to build an $8.1M transit exchange in the Highstreet area of Mt. Lehman Road. The new exchange will feature five new bus bays, new transit shelters, enhanced street lighting, bike racks, and a new multi-use pathway. Work is slated to start in late January and is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

Construction is underway to build a 55-unit supportive housing facility on McGill Road in Kamloops. The project will provide temporary housing and support those transitioning out of shelters and into permanent homes. The facility will also provide residents with daily meals, life skills and employment training, health care referrals, overdose prevention, and harm reduction services.

Victoria General Hospital has renovated its pediatric waiting area, aimed at creating a more welcoming environment for young patients and their families. The $75,000 project features softer lighting, interactive play stations, and better seating arrangements, in addition to incorporating sensory friendly elements to support children with diverse needs.

The Walmart in Squamish is undergoing renovations to become a Supercentre, which will offer fresh produce. The changes are in response to growing demands for affordable groceries within the community. A grand reopening is slated for summer 2026.

Graham Construction has recently completed building the Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex in Surrey. The $132M facility, which began construction in summer 2022, includes two NHL-sized rinks to accommodate both ice and dry-floor activities. The arena features 400 spectator seats, community spaces, dressing rooms, public washrooms, and skate-rental services.

Aesop, a beauty supply store, has recently opened a new store on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver.

Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao Daily News will be permanently closing its business on January 31. The company has newsrooms in both Richmond and Toronto, however the number of employees based in each location has not been specified. A total of 60 employees have been terminated.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the Comox Valley Regional District to expand bus services, effective January 1. Some improvements include expanding Route 5 Vanier and increasing the number of trips offered, in addition to increasing Sunday service on Route 2 Cumberland, Route 6 Uplands and Route 8 Downtown.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the Victoria Regional Transit System to expand bus services, effective January 5. Some improvements include updating routes to improve reliability, increasing the frequency of trip, and expanding evening services, in addition to adding a new route between Esquimalt, View Royal, and Saanich.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with three lower mainland cities to expand bus services, effective January 4. Some improvements include increasing the frequency of bus services during peak times and adding additional weekend trips.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the City of Kamloops to expand bus services, effective January 4. Some improvements include expanding the hours on Routes 1, 3, and 7 and modifying trip times to improve schedule reliability.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the City of Kelowna and the City of West Kelowna to expand bus services, effective January 4. Some improvements include increasing bus services, creating new bus routes, expanding handyDART hours on Sundays.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the City of Prince George to expand bus services, effective January 5. Some improvements include expanding service on routes 5 and 15, in addition to increasing service hours on routes 88 and 89, which travel from College Heights to the Hart Centre Mall.

BC Transit and the BC government are partnering with the District of Squamish to expand bus services, effective January 4. Some improvements include increasing the frequency of routes 1 Brackendale and 2 Highlands by adding one additional trip on weekdays and one additional late-evening trip on Sundays.

The Government of Canada and Metro Vancouver are allocating nearly $36M in combined funding to repair and renew 715 units across the Metro Vancouver Housing portfolio. The repairs will be made across nine properties throughout the region and will include projects focused on upgrading energy systems, improving community spaces, and replacing exterior features.

Cardinal Energy Ltd. is delaying its 2026 capital budget due to uncertaintly around oil prices but utilizing its remaining capital for moderate and prioritized drilling, completion, and maintenance activities in both its conventional and thermal assets.

PowerWood Canada Corp is planning to construct loading and locomotive depots and lay 3.5km of track to service its advanced black pellet production facilities near High Level. Plans show the company’s rail spur joining Canadian National Railway Company track on the Hay River Line between Hay River, NWT and Roma JCT, AB.

Calgary-based Condor Energies Inc. is drilling two additional wells at its asset in Uzbekistan with plans during 2026 for another pad-style horizontal development drilling program targeting three reservoirs with up to six horizontal wells.

Water restrictions in the city of Calgary continue due to a severe water main break that occurred December 30, 2025. The project is now in the water testing and stabilization phase. If successful, the feeder main could soon return to full service. The feeder main is expected to be taken offline again in the spring for additional repairs.

Minago Development GP Inc., a critical minerals project owned by Norway House Cree Nation, has purchased the rights to a low-carbon magnesium extraction process. Minago plans to begin work on a dolomite deposit north of Grand Rapids, and has trained about 50 people from Norway House and surrounding communities. The goal is to begin production in 2027.

American clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is opening its first Winnipeg location, at the CF Polo Park shopping centre. The store is currently accepting applications for a manager.

The Government of Manitoba has cancelled plans to create a teacher exchange program that would help address staffing shortages in northern schools. The Province had hoped to work with the national non-profit Gakino’amaage to find temporary northern placements for Winnipeg teachers, but the pilot program was abandoned due to insufficient interest.

A film production crew will be working in the southern Manitoba community of St. Jean in February, shooting scenes for a movie called Northern Lights. Other scenes are scheduled to be filmed in Beausejour.

Developers are planning a 72-unit apartment complex at the site of a former heritage building in Osborne Village, with plans to begin construction this fall. However, project planners say the City of Winnipeg’s requirements concerning parking and affordable units may pose challenges.

Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo is opening its first two Winnipeg locations in 2026: the first at CF Polo Park shopping mall this spring and the second at St. Vital Centre later in the year. Opening dates have not been announced but the company says it is planning hiring fairs for the Polo Park location.

A Filipino restaurant, Island Pacific Kitchen, has opened in Steinbach. It is the first eatery in the city to specialize in Filipino cuisine.

Broadway Roastery is closing its Eighth Street location in Saskatoon on February 25 after 32 years in business. The decision came due to pandemic-related shifts in customer traffic and rising import costs for coffee beans. The owners are considering a smaller-scale venture in the future.

Hospitals across the Yukon will see increased staffing in the coming months, with charge nurses hired for all patient care units. Yukon Hospitals is also creating a new team to assist patients with arrival and discharge, staffed by a manager and two coordinators.

The federal government has authorized the Yukon to accept 282 people into the Yukon Nominee Program in 2026. The program seeks to address labour shortages by allowing employers to sponsor foreign nationals, with priority given to health care and rural employers. There were 312 individuals nominated for permanent residency in 2025.

Three new physicians have signed on to practice in the Yukon: an orthopedic surgeon, a gynecologist, and a family doctor. The Yukon Medical Association says the territory has been recruiting physicians from Quebec, where some doctors oppose recent legislation that impacts their practices.

Reitmans, a women’s clothing retailer, is closing its store in Yellowknife at the end of January. The store is the company’s only Northwest Territories location, and the number of affected employees has not been disclosed.

A Yellowknife chocolate business currently working out of a small commercial kitchen is hoping to open a retail store and production space. The owners of North Chocolate are asking the City of Yellowknife for a permit to use the main floor of the former Yellowknife Veterinary Clinic for their new venture.

Folk on the Rocks, Yellowknife’s biggest annual music festival, is looking for a consultant to develop an economic assessment. The organization is hoping to measure the impact of its festival and year-round programming to help with future funding applications.

The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Behdzi Ahda’ First Nation are planning to build a new K-12 school in Colville Lake. Territorial officials recently travelled to the community to meet with First Nation leadership and sign a workplan for the project.

The Qinnirvik Country Food and Bulk Store in Iqaluit has reopened, but with reduced offerings. The store, which closed in October, previously sold bulk goods such as pasta and lentils, but it now offers only country food.

The new Cape Breton Business Innovation Centre is now open in Sydney, bringing together key supports to helping entrepreneurs start, grow and scale their businesses. The N.S. Government announced $775k over 3 years while the Government of Canada is contributing $405K to Ignite Atlantic and $153.7K to Volta toward programming and operations. Ignite has hired a community navigator and an operations and event co-ordinator.

North Atlantic (based in St. John’s) plans to develop a 45-turbine wind farm and hydrogen plant in the Sunnyside/Come by Chance area. The plans would create about 1,200 jobs during the construction phase which would cost about $1.75B. Final decisions on the proposed project are expected by the last quarter of 2026.

Peel Region will receive an additional $60M from the provincial government to support licensed child care providers, increasing its 2026 child care budget to approximately $708M

PrimeFab will host a manufacturing job fair on January 26 in Midland and on January 29 at Georgian College

Northern Reflections Ltd., a clothing store in Newmarket’s Upper Canada Mall will close at the end of this month

Metro Vancouver has begun work to upgrade the Stoney Creek sewer system as of January 12. The $12.25M project will involve digging trenches and installing a three-kilometre pipe along the roadway between Burnaby and Coquitlam. Work will be done in three phases, with the overall completion scheduled for 2029.

Oakberry, an acai bowls and smoothies shop, is opening a new location at the Galleria Concord Gardens in Richmond.

Cotti Coffee, a Chinese coffee chain, is opening a new location at Lansdowne Centre in Richmond.

Ultramarinos Pepe, a small Spanish grocery store, is opening a new location on West 16th in Vancouver in mid-February.

The City of Kamloops is providing over $123K in grant funding to six non-profit organizations offering programs and services to vulnerable youth, seniors, and people with disabilities. The funding will help support programs focus on developing life skills, providing safe transpiration, and offering social and mental health services.

Canco Petroleum has recently opened a new gas station located in Kelowna’s Lower Mission.