Editorials - Oct. 2, 2026
A tradition returns
Hockey Night in Canada is set to return to Canadian living rooms. The CBC is partnering with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) with the first game airing on Dec. 5, opening night for the 2026-2027 season. The reigning Walter Cup champs, the Montreal Victoire, will take on the yet-to-be-named expansion team from Hamilton.
The CBC wisely chose to hold on to the trademark when its 74-year run televising the NHL came to an end after the 2025-2026 season after negotiations broke down with Rogers, which had purchased the rights and chose to keep exclusive control, rather than continue a sublicensing deal with the public broadcaster. When the announcement dropped in June, Canadians took to their keyboards decrying the loss of a beloved national icon. HNIC is not only a tradition, but the broadcast quality of the games and pre- and post-game analysis is second to none. The PWHL will benefit from the excellent camera work and knowledgeable commentary to bring their story to a wider audience.
Taking the advice of the Great One who intimated that a great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be, the CBC is on the cutting edge of the growing popularity of women’s sports. The spirit of HNIC isn’t tied to a specific league or gender; it is tied to our collective love for the game, the community it builds, and the stories it tells. – DS
You [Can’t] See Everything
Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney’s new film is said to be a scathing look at Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. It is predicted to be an awards player in several categories, including for Best Original Song, “Let Me Sell You A Dream”, which is written by modern-day genius David Byrne, using only real Musk quotes.
Musk denounced it prior to its premiere as a “hit piece”. His ex-girlfriend, Ashley St. Clair, refused a payout of $40 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding Musk, saying that, essentially, showing the world the real Musk is more important than the money.
And yet, when it came time to spread the word about the film, after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival, social media companies like Meta, YouTube and TikTok - in addition to, not surprisingly, the Musk-owned X - refused paid advertising, citing the film as being too political in nature. Meta and YouTube have since reversed course, while X and TikTok have not. It seems as though Musk, the self-described “free speech absolutionist”, has changed his tune.
More to the point here, however, is that accusations long levelled at legacy media of being gatekeepers with agendas are clearly warranted with the world’s new publishers of news and information. Billionaires like Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and more, who are all suckling at the teat of Donald Trump, are controlling what the average person sees and, more importantly, doesn’t see. Why? To cite the famous Don Ohlmeyer quote, “The answer to all your questions is money.”
As you traverse the new information landscape and become aware of what is being shown to you and what’s being held back by websites or social media channels, file that information away and understand the curation process and the motivations behind it. It may appear things are one way, but they’re the other way... quite intentionally. – SL
Lessons from the diamond
There was a particular sting to being a Blue Jays fan this year. Twelve months ago, Toronto was playing in Game 7 of the World Series, one win away from a championship. This year, the Jays were eliminated from playoff contention in September and finished 79-83. That is quite a comedown. But, for kids watching, there may be something valuable in it. Young people are often told to dream big, work hard and believe that amazing things are possible. All of that is very true. The part we sometimes leave out is that amazing things do not always happen.
The Blue Jays have played 50 seasons. They have won the World Series twice, in 1992 and 1993. Last year, they came within one game of doing it again, losing an unforgettable Game 7 to the L.A. Dodgers in extra innings. For most of those 50 seasons, there was no parade.
That is a useful lesson. Sometimes you practise for years and lose. Sometimes you play your best and somebody else plays better. Sometimes you get remarkably close to something wonderful and still go home disappointed. That does not make the work meaningless.
Baseball is not only about trophies. It is about showing up, getting better, playing with friends, enjoying the process and finding reasons to come back again tomorrow. The 2025 Blue Jays showed us how extraordinary a season can become. The 2026 Blue Jays remind us that extraordinary seasons cannot be easily duplicated.
So, keep practising. Keep playing. Keep enjoying the game, even when the scoreboard is rude about it. Amazing things happen. They just do not always happen. And every once in a while, if you keep working, keep learning and keep loving what you do, something wonderful comes along. That is baseball. And, inconveniently, that is life. – SBS