JUNE 12, 2026
A Life in Colour
Hearing that the British artist David Hockney has died feels like some of the colour in the world has faded. The lids have been put back on the tubes of Naples Yellow, Ultramarine and Cadmium Red, the highly saturated acrylics he used to such great, vibrating effect. Hockney’s bright, modern palette was inspired by his life-changing move in 1964 from drab post-war London to Los Angeles. Drawn by the glamour of Hollywood, the city granted him new “ways of seeing,” which are brilliantly encapsulated in his Splash series, with their sun-drenched California modernism. As well as playing a crucial role in normalizing queer identity, these iconic works established Hockney as one of the defining artists of the Pop Art era. He cut a colourful figure in life as well, in his dazzling checked suits, bold cardigans and round glasses, topped off in later years with vivid yellow Crocs; shoes that he wore to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III declared: “Your yellow galoshes! Beautifully chosen.” Hailed for restoring the “human form” to art with his figurative paintings, he also gave art a gregarious human form.
JUNE 11, 2026
Riding out the Storm
With our economy being buffeted by rising energy prices and the threatening clouds of new tariffs, the Bank of Canada charted a cautious course yesterday, leaving its benchmark interest rate at 2.25 per cent, unchanged since Oct. 2025. Bank Governor Tiff Macklem defended this wait-and-see approach at a press conference, saying he needs more time to determine how key geopolitical and trade factors play out. ”If the conflict in the Middle East continues and higher energy prices start leading to ongoing generalized inflation,” said Macklem, then the Bank will raise rates. However, “if the U.S. imposes significant new trade restrictions on Canada,” the Bank will lower rates in order to stoke the economy. On whether Canada is currently in a recession, Macklem mimicked Prime Minister Mark Carney’s evasive take: “It’s not a word I would use.” But with President Trump signalling that his administration will take a hard line in upcoming negotiations to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement, Macklem can’t keep waiting for clear skies – the gathering storm will soon force his hand.
JUNE 10, 2026
Keep the Flag Flying
On Parliament Hill for the Pride Flag-raising ceremony, Mark Carney made a promise to – and a date with – the country’s 2SLGBTQI+ community, committing $1.5 million every year toward the safety and security of Pride parades across the country. He added: “I’ll be taking advantage of that in just a few short weeks.” Last year, when Carney made a surprise trip to the Vancouver Pride Parade, he was only the second sitting prime minister to do so after Justin Trudeau in 2016 – although former PM Joe Clark was the grand marshal of Calgary’s 2001 parade when he was leader of Progressive Conservative Party. As Carney recognized that equal rights are currently backsliding in the world, he cited Canada’s history of inclusivity: Pierre Trudeau decriminalized homosexuality in 1969 and the country was one of the first to legalize gay marriage in 2005. He also spoke of his government’s current budget, which earmarks $7.5 million for 2SLGBTQI+ programs over the next five years: “While Pride season comes and goes, our commitment to ensuring safety and dignity does not.”
JUNE 9, 2026
Match Made in Heaven
Back in April, Victoria Mboko, Canada’s 19-year-old burgeoning tennis star, received a text notification from a person her phone identified as “Maybe Serena”. The Burlington, Ont.-native, who has taken the sports world by storm in charting a meteoric rise through the world rankings, was shocked to find the message was from Serena Williams, the greatest female tennis player of all time, informing Mboko that she was returning to the pro tour and wanted to be her doubles partner. “How could I decline that?” asked Mboko, who will take the court alongside Williams on Wednesday at the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London, a tournament often used to prepare for Wimbledon, which starts June 29. About her much-anticipated return to competitive play – at the age of 44 after a four-year hiatus – and sharing the court with the teenaged Canadian phenom, Williams posted that, “It’s really about my kids getting to see me play.” Obviously, the legend feels she isn’t ready to call “game, set and match” on her glorious career.
JUNE 8, 2026
Hoop Dreams
The United States may have had the upper hand against Canada on the ice lately, but we’re getting the last laugh on the hardwood. In a stunning upset on Sunday, Team Canada defeated the U.S. 67-65 to capture its first-ever FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup gold medal. The victory ended decades of American dominance in the tournament – Canada had never netted any medal but bronze. “We put the basketball world on notice this week,” said guard Lyris Robinson, whose 10 points and four rebounds helped secure the historic win. The unprecedented victory is the latest sign that we’re becoming a legitimate basketball powerhouse that can hold its own on the global stage. With the success of home-grown ballers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has captured the last two MVP awards and led the Oklahoma City Thunder to last year’s NBA title), RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets, a whole new generation of young Canadian kids are trading in their skates for sneakers and making their presence felt on basketball courts around the world.
