The gold rush is back — and now at a big-box store near you

The gold rush is back — and now at a big-box store near you

Warehouse stores in Canada aren’t just selling large quantities of toilet paper these days — gold bars and coins and other precious metals are moving out of the realm of banking and jewellers and into their aisles. With gold hitting record-high prices in recent weeks, the metal’s popularity has been reflected at retailers, too. According to Costco’s chief financial officer, … Read more

Mastermind Toys stopped accepting gift cards on Dec. 24 — when most cards were still wrapped

Mastermind Toys stopped accepting gift cards on Dec. 24 — when most cards were still wrapped

Riverview father Rudy Walters is speaking out after Mastermind Toys stopped accepting gift cards effective Christmas Day — with signs posted on their storefronts only days before. Walters said the move raises questions about the value of gift cards and about consumer protection when a company such as Mastermind Toys heads toward bankruptcy. “I would just like to see some more … Read more

Amazon’s Prime Video to start showing commercials in February

Amazon’s Prime Video to start showing commercials in February

Entertainment It will cost $2.99 a month for Canadian viewers to opt out of ads on Amazon’s Prime Video starting in February. Company representatives told the Canadian Press they will introduce commercial breaks to TV shows on the streaming service starting Feb. 5, 2024 for customers who choose not to pay extra. Canadian viewers can opt … Read more

BlendJet recall of millions of blenders over fire hazard, breaking blades includes 117,000 in Canada

BlendJet recall of millions of blenders over fire hazard, breaking blades includes 117,000 in Canada

BlendJet is recalling millions of portable blenders over laceration and fire hazards after receiving dozens of reports of injuries, U.S. regulators said Thursday. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the recall covers about 4.8 million blenders in the U.S. and about 117,000 were sold in Canada. BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders can overheat or catch fire, … Read more

Harry Rosen, founder of Canadian menswear chain, dies at 92

Harry Rosen, founder of Canadian menswear chain, dies at 92

The founder of Canadian men’s clothing retailer Harry Rosen Inc. has died at 92. Rosen opened his first made-to-measure menswear store on Parliament Street in Toronto in 1954 along with his brother Lou and ran the company for 51 years until his son, Larry Rosen, became chair and CEO in 2005. In a statement, Larry confirmed his father’s passing … Read more

Bob picks 10 significant science stories for 2023

Bob picks 10 significant science stories for 2023

2023 was a busy year in science. Here are 10 stories worth revisiting as we wind up the year. 1. Canadian Jeremy Hansen chosen to fly to the moon A Canadian astronaut was selected as part of the crew for NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon. Jeremy Hansen and three crew mates will fly … Read more

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys shoppers have less than a week to redeem store gift cards.  The Canadian toy retailer announced earlier this month that it had signed an asset purchase agreement with Unity Acquisitions Inc.  Mastermind filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCCA) on Nov 24. Customers are now being told their gift cards will not be honoured … Read more

Electric scooter company Bird Canada says operations not affected by U.S. bankruptcy

Electric scooter company Bird Canada says operations not affected by U.S. bankruptcy

Electric scooter rental company Bird says its Canadian operations won’t be affected by the company’s bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Canadian COO Alex Petre told CBC News that Bird Canada is not part of the filing and Canada “remains a key priority market for the business.” “As such, I want to underline that there is no impact on … Read more

Olympic medallist among 3 new senators appointed by Trudeau

Olympic medallist among 3 new senators appointed by Trudeau

Politics Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed a former Olympian, a philanthropist and the head of the Canadian Women’s Foundation to the Senate. All three appointees to fill vacant Ontario Senate seats The Canadian Press · Posted: Dec 20, 2023 3:32 PM EST | Last Updated: 9 hours ago Marnie McBean (left), Paulette Senior (centre) and … Read more

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well.  Canada, like its American, British … Read more