Daily News Curation - 2025-12-20
Curated 28 items from disability, accessibility, and social policy sources.
1. Death of dog after avian influenza exposure in Alberta marks second such case in Canada
<p>A dog in Alberta died in November after being exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza. It’s the second confirmed fatal case of avian flu in a domestic dog in Canada, with the first being reported in Ontario in 2023.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 23.00
2. Windsor launching chatbot pilot project as more cities experiment with AI
<p>Windsor’s chatbot comes online as more municipal government’s across Canada adopt AI tools to become more efficient and reduce costs while unions voice fears about potential job cuts and data security. </p>
📍 Source
Score: 21.60
3. Alberta Next panel recommends referendums on immigration, leaving Canada Pension Plan
<p>An Alberta panel aimed at finding ways the province can strengthen its autonomy has offered up seven recommendations, including options for referendum topics. </p>
📍 Source
Score: 14.00
4. Many rural N.S. families struggle to find child care, province remains committed to increasing access
<p>Many families in Nova Scotia live in rural communities with very little access to child care. The provincial government says it remains committed to increasing access to daycare for all families, especially those in rural communities who have to drive long distances to find care. </p>
📍 Source
Score: 16.10
5. Sonia Bélanger tapped to replace Christian Dubé as Quebec health minister
<p>Sonia Bélanger will be replacing Christian Dubé as health minister after the latter resigned on Thursday over difficult negotiations with the province’s family physicians and medical specialists.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 14.50
6. Manitoba Government Releases Local Journalism Report
📍 Source Score: 12.00
7. Flu hospitalizations nearly double as H3N2 spreads across Canada
For the week ending Dec. 13, Canada saw 11,646 new cases of the flu being detected, which means 27.7 per cent of all the tests conducted in the country came out positive. 📍 Source Score: 9.50
8. Ranking Four Winds’ Pils Pack, which features some of Canada’s best breweries
The pack includes drinks from breweries across the country. 📍 Source Score: 9.50
9. On the Top Chef Canada finale, Alex Kim came second—but his story came first
The Five Sails culinary director made a splash on the show. 📍 Source Score: 9.50
10. Kelowna parent speaks out about speeding in school zones, dozens of tickets issued
‘It almost feels like until a kid gets seriously injured, it’s not going to get handled the way it should be,’ said a concerned Kelowna mother. 📍 Source Score: 7.50
11. Alberta Next panel report calls to ditch RCMP, hold referendum to quit CPP
The report released Friday from the Alberta Next panel says any referendum on leaving the CPP should be held after residents receive more information on the pros and cons. 📍 Source Score: 10.30
12. Vancouver Folk Music Festival announces appointment of a new executive director
“My goal is to carry forward its legacy as a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable cultural hub.” 📍 Source Score: 7.50
13. Straight, No Chaser: Kabir Sehgal is an average guy who loves weird rabbit holes
Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday.
📍 Source Score: 9.00
14. Akwesasne parents outraged after photos circulate of ‘time out box’ in school
<p>Photos of a wooden box, allegedly used for student “time outs” at an elementary school in Akwesasne, drew shock and anger from parents this week and have prompted an investigation by the school district.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 6.00
15. Gas outage in northern Ontario town cuts heat to hundreds of residents’ homes amid freezing weather
<p>Amid a temperature of –26 C factoring in the wind chill, homes in Cochenour, Ont., were left with no heat after a natural gas outage was reported around 8 a.m. CT on Friday. Here’s what one resident wants to see change before the next outage occurs.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 9.00
16. Judge grants bail to Quebec man as 1994 murder conviction under review
Daniel Jolivet’s case is being examined by a federal panel for a possible miscarriage of justice. 📍 Source Score: 7.50
17. Province Releases 2025 Fall Conditions Report
📍 Source Score: 5.80
18. WATCH: Global Okanagan News at 5:30 p.m. – Dec. 19
Watch the online news edition of Global Okanagan at 5:30 p.m. 📍 Source Score: 5.50
19. Group loses latest court battle to halt tree removal at Vancouver’s Stanley Park
<img src=’https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.7149065,1753037311000/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C3840%2C2160%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29’ alt=’An overhead shot of several trees on the forest floor.’ width=’620’ height=’349’ title=’The Vancouver Park Board’s plans to remove 160,000 trees killed by a looper moth infestation in Stanley Park, including these pictured in December, is facing growing pushback from advocates for the iconic park. Trees cut down near Prospect Point in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. Taken Dec. 18, 2023.’/><p>A group trying to save thousands of trees from being cut down in Vancouver’s famed Stanley Park has lost another legal battle. But a court decision this week found that the City of Vancouver didn’t follow its own rules when contracting a firm to clear a large swath of the urban forest.</p> 📍 Source Score: 4.00
20. Measles Update #54
📍 Source Score: 4.50
21. Israel must answer for denying Canadian delegation’s entry, MPs tell Anand
In a letter sent to Anand, NDP MP Jenny Kwan and Liberal MP Gurbux Saini called that behaviour “an egregious violation of personal dignity and basic diplomatic norms.” 📍 Source Score: 4.50
22. At the end of the fall session, Alberta’s NDP goes on the offensive
📍 Source Score: 4.50
23. Toronto man charged with terrorism, funding ISIS and attempted kidnappings
<p>A 26-year-old man from Toronto has been arrested on terrorism charges, police announced on Friday, as well as charges for two attempted kidnappings in the Greater Toronto Area.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 4.50
24. Avian flu hit Ontario turkey farms hard. Is it still safe to eat for your holiday meal?
<p>Some London-area butchers say the availability of holiday turkeys is unchanged, despite an ongoing avian influenza outbreak in Ontario that’s seen tens of thousands of birds culled.</p>
📍 Source
Score: 4.50
25. Employer Prosecuted for Workplace Incident
📍 Source Score: 2.00
26. Saskatoon-based company planning Indigenous-led multi-corridor project
Saskatoon-based Pisim Power is proposing an Indigenous-led project through the northern part of the Prairie provinces with equity participation in mind. 📍 Source Score: 2.00
27. Sign of the times: Facing an uncertain future, the Penthouse looks back
As development pressures mount, Danny Filippone reflects on the club’s legacy, its community roots, and the memories that continue to shape Vancouver culture. 📍 Source Score: 3.00
28. A holiday wine guide for people you love, tolerate, and need to impress
Who they are determines what you pour. 📍 Source Score: 1.30