Editorials - July 3, 2026
Worth fighting for
The recent announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney to launch an architectural contest for 24 Sussex Drive marks a long-overdue turning point for a national landmark. For more than a decade, the official residence of Canada’s leader has sat empty, left to rot into a state of squalor defined by rodent infestations, asbestos and hazardous wiring. It is a national embarrassment that we have allowed a symbol of our heritage to become a literal hazard.
Critics like Pierre Poilievre have been quick to brand the $100 million rehabilitation a waste of public funds, but this view is as short-sighted as it is hypocritical. It is easy to cry foul over costs while residing at Stornoway, a taxpayer-maintained property valued at over $4 million. Maintaining our national institutions is a fundamental necessity, not a political luxury. The bipartisan advisory approach, involving figures like Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien, and having the design competition adjudicated by an independent panel of design experts chaired by celebrated architect Moshe Safdie ensures this project transcends the temporary divisions of the day.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to restore the property, using public donations from Canadians and non-profit organizations. The goal of $50 million from a crowdfunding platform set up on the Rideau Hall foundations’ website has already raised $54,000 from 210 donors.
As we navigate international economic pressures and forge a new national identity, preserving the seat of executive leadership is vital. The price tag, while significant, pales in comparison to international equivalents like the White House. This is about more than just a house; it’s about respecting the history and the future of the Prime Minister’s office over political posturing. We need to stop treating our heritage like a political football and start treating it like the treasure it is. – DS
Killer boots, man!
Two minutes into injury time on Sunday, Canada made history when Stephen Eustáquio found the bottom left corner of the South African net, putting the Great White North up 1-0 in its Round of 32 game. The score would stay that way, propelling Canada to the Round of 16.
Canadians are, for once, happy to hear, “For the first time ever...” over and over again. First it was a World Cup game on Canadian soil, then a goal, then a win, now it’s on soccer’s biggest stage. Once happy to be part of the World Cup, Canadians are increasingly finding themselves uttering the immortal words of Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber. “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?”
The beautiful game has captured the hearts and minds of people across this country as the men’s national team has continued to impress on the world stage. To Canadians who followed the women’s national team through its World Cup and Olympic successes of the late 2010s to the gold medal of 2020 in Japan, this fandom has not come out of nowhere, but a fire has been lit under the people of this country.
On Saturday, the team will face Morocco in what is sure to be its toughest test of the tournament. Coming off of a penalty shootout win over the Dutch, Morocco will be riding high, but Canada will have no strategy but to leave it out on the field, carrying the nation on its back.
The country is watching. The country has been watching. We’re already proud. We’re already inspired. We’ve already gone farther than we thought we would. But, you’re telling us there’s a chance. – SL
Telling their stories
Community journalism is demanding work. It requires long hours, constant curiosity, deep compassion for people and a commitment to telling the stories that larger news outlets often overlook. The people who do it rarely seek recognition, but their work deserves special praise.
Wingham Advance Times journalist Cory Bilyea is one of those people. Alongside her work covering local news, Bilyea founded EagleEyes Photography and Media Productions and produced a documentary about Anishinaabe artist Michael “Cy” Cywink. The film is more than a profile of an artist. It captures Cywink as a warm, laid-back storyteller, sharing memories from his life while demonstrating the techniques behind his artwork. It preserves not only his paintings, but his voice, humour and personality. The documentary has become even more meaningful following Cywink’s passing on May 29, just before an exhibition of his work opened at the Blyth Festival Art Gallery.
Community journalism is often called the first draft of history. Documentary filmmaking adds another dimension, preserving expressions, stories and creative processes that written words alone cannot fully capture. Every community has people whose lives enrich those around them. Too often, their stories disappear with them. Bilyea recognized that Cywink’s story was worth preserving while there was still time. Thanks to her foresight, audiences will continue to learn not only from his artwork, but from the artist behind it and his enduring cultural legacy in perpetuity. – SBS