Top stories in your community and around the world as noted by Algonquin Times journalists.
Nylah Henry
Photos:
March 19, 2026 Revised: March 19, 2026 10:28pm
Local
CTV News: Police in Gatineau, Que. seized 13 kilograms of cocaine and arrested two men during a major drug-trafficking investigation in the city.
The raid also resulted in the seizure of 5,000 methamphetamine tablets and more than $88,000 in Canadian currency, police said.
The two men were released on a summons.
National
CBC: Police say two teens, a 15-year-old boy from Nova Scotia and a 14-year-old girl from Manitoba, have been charged with allegedly planning simultaneous attacks at their local schools.
Police found a handwritten map, imitation weapons, including an imitation pipe bomb and assault rifle, handwritten notes of how the attack was going to be executed and clothing with hate symbols and “concerning comments.”
Police are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime, and other charges could be laid.
International
Globe and Mail: Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, after an incredible comeback from a blown eighth-inning lead, beating the United States 3-2.
Ahead of a matchup with political overtones, players and coaches avoided discussing the government turmoil between the nations.
Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the Dominican Republic in 2013.
The outfits are doing more than just filling halls with oversized hoodies and sweats. For many, clothing has become a quiet form of protection, a way to control how the world interacts with them.
Sienna Gauthier
Photos: Sienna Gauthier
March 18, 2026 Revised: March 18, 2026 2:51pm
Photo: Sienna Gauthier
Jahvon Flowers, a student at Algonquin College, looks across the campus commons on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Flowers was spending time between classes at the college’s main campus.
In the early mornings at Algonquin College, the campus dress code is easy to spot: oversized hoodies, matching sweatsuits, headphones pressed firmly over ears and heavy boots crunching across icy sidewalks.
At first glance, it looks like casual fashion but it’s something deeper.
Across campus, these choices reflect a noticeable change in student fashion, where comfort and emotional security are taking priority over trends.
Ticcara Davis, an 18-year-old social work student, says the way she dresses can change how people interact with her during the day.
“When I don’t want to be approached, I wear baggy sweatpants and a baggy hoodie,” Davis said. “I always put the hood over my head just to hide my appearance because no one wants to come up to you when you look like you don’t want to be talked to.”
On days when safety feels more important than style, Davis chooses clothing that feels more protective. Still, confidence can come from different pieces in her closet. “Crop tops make me feel a lot more confident,” Davis said.
Other students say even simple outfits can be intentional.
Gabriela Malecki, an 18-year-old student in the streaming and broadcasting program, follows what she calls the “sandwich method” when putting outfits together.
“You start by planning your top and bottom, and depending on what colour your top is, you match that colour with your shoes,” Malecki said. “That way your outfit is balanced and ends up looking flawless.”
Gabriela Malecki poses at Algonquin College wearing an oversized H&M hoodie, part of her “sandwich method” for building a comfortable lazy-day outfit. Photo credit: Sienna Gauthier
The approach, she says, is a helpful trick for students who still want to look put together on low-energy days.
“I’d rather be stylish,” she said. “When I wear comfortable outfits all the time, it makes me feel lazy. When I wear a stylish outfit, I feel more confident and it motivates me to get through the day.”
But like many students balancing school and life pressures, her wardrobe changes on difficult days.
“On my worst mental health days, I wear really baggy and loose clothing,” she said. “I don’t have the motivation to put together a nice outfit.”
For 18-year-old sports and entertainment management student Jahvon Flowers, confidence comes more naturally.
“Most of my outfits make me feel confident because I believe I can pull off anything I wear,” Flowers said. His go-to outfit is simple, sweats and a heavy black sweater, “especially for the cold,” he added. “I hate conversing when I’m cold.”
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Top stories in your community and around the world as noted by Algonquin Times journalists.
Delaney St. Pierre
Photos:
March 16, 2026 Revised: March 16, 2026 7:47am
Local
CityNews: A 22-year-old man is facing several charges after Ottawa police searched his home in Alfred, Ont. The search found evidence that led the man to be charged in connection with several child luring incidents between March and December 2024.
Police charged the man with seven offences, including luring a child and making, distributing and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.
Police allege the man lured children through social media, and operated under many different usernames. The investigation is ongoing.
National
Global News: Canada lost 84,000 jobs in February, raising the national unemployment rate from 6.5 per cent to 6.7 per cent.
The trade war and U.S. tariffs have taken a toll on Canada’s economy and job market. Businesses are holding off on hiring and expanding. A total of 109,000 Canadian jobs have been lost since the start of 2026.
Youth aged 15 to 24 made up the majority of jobs lost in February, with 47,000 jobs lost, causing the youth unemployment rate to rise from 13.8 per cent to 14.1 per cent.
International
Global News: Travellers should reconsider their vacation plans due to the war in Iran, organizations say. Travel is risky as the war has impacted air travel, costs and the safety of travellers.
Flights have been getting cancelled more often since the beginning of the war, even for those not travelling to the Middle East.
Refunds will most likely only be given if the airline cancels a flight or if a passenger makes a cancellation with an airline that has a free cancellation option. Travellers may also consider changing their travel dates.
Students think "Sinners" will win Best Picture, Emma Stone will win Best Actress
Evan Mullen
Photos: Evan Mullen
March 15, 2026 Revised: March 15, 2026 5:11pm
Photo: Evan Mullen
Tristan Yelle and Cameron Fazli are film and media production students eager for this year's Oscars.
The 98th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, on March 15 will be a night for Hollywood to celebrate its yearly achievements on the big screen, highlighted by the Best Picture award.
A class of film and media production students at Algonquin College participated in an Algonquin Times survey asking who they thought would take home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress at this year’s awards ceremony.
The class’s Best Picture prediction was not very close with Ryan Coogler’s Sinners receiving the majority of the votes and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein coming in second place.
Sinners is a gothic religious film powered by a great score and a talented performance by Michael B. Jordan, who plays a set of twins. The director, Coogler, also made 2018’s Black Panther.
“I have to say Sinners. There’s so many layers to that film. They didn’t hold back on the CGI. A lot of the practical stuff looks great. I think it’ll be the one to hold up,” said student Cameron Fazli on what movie will age best.
For the students, the Best Actor award was a toss up between Timothée Chalamet from Marty Supreme, which is about an anti-hero ping pong global superstar, and Jordan from Sinners.
Ultimately, Chalamet came out on top by only one vote in the class. Chalamet is the second-youngest actor to receive three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor behind Marlon Brando. He is still the favourite even after his recent controversial comments on ballet and opera.
Shockingly, Emma Stone from Bugonia ran away with the most votes for Best Actress, despite Jessie Buckley from Hamnet being the favourite after sweeping all major awards for Best Actress in other film awards.
“The SAG Awards, you look at the Golden Globes, those are the ones that technically give you a small prediction of what’s going on. Emma Stone did a great job, but I feel like Buckley had it with Hamnet. It was emotional,” said student Tristan Yelle.
Stone plays the role of a harsh corporate boss who is captured by conspiracy theorists accusing her of being an alien. She previously won Best Actress in 2024 for her role in Poor Things and in 2017 for La La Land.
Sinners and F1 were both available to watch at Algonquin College for free this year with last Wednesday’s F1 screening taking place at Algonquin Commons Theatre.
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Daniel Sundaresan
Photos:
March 13, 2026 Revised: March 13, 2026 9:08am
Local
Ottawa Citizen: An Ottawa company is looking to build drones to fly with F-35s. Ottawa company Dominion Dynamics started investing $50 million to develop advanced drones that can fly alongside fighter jets like the F-35 Lightning II.
These drones, called Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, are meant to help with dangerous missions, surveillance and electronic warfare which reduces risks for pilots.
The company’s founder Eliot Pence says Canada needs to start pushing more towards sixth generation air technology instead of debating which fighter jets to buy.
The drones are being designed to handle a lot of Canada’s unique challenges, especially operating in the freezing cold Arctic and covering long distances.
National
CBC: Nunavut MP Lori Idlout left the New Democratic Party and joined the Liberal Party of Canada, which has brought Prime Minister Mark Carney closer to having a majority government.
Carney welcomed her to the Liberal Party and said they plan to work together on issues affecting Nunavut and overall northern Canada.
Idlout said her decision came after thinking about several factors, including some concerns about Canada’s sovereignty and the well-being of people in the north.
With her defection, the Liberals have now reached 170 seats, just two seats short of a majority government. Upcoming byelections could potentially give them enough seats to reach a majority.
International
CBC: Air Transat charging more for flights to Europe as jet fuel prices weigh on airlines
Flights and airline ticket prices have increased because the cost of jet fuel has gone up during the war in the Middle East.
The conflict began when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 26.
This has affected global oil supplies and caused fuel prices to rise rapidly. Airlines like Air Transat said they have added fuel surcharges and are raising prices on some flights, especially during busy travel periods.
Other airlines around the world, including Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand, have increased air fare ticket prices due to the inflation caused by the war.
Students, staff and community members ask the college to provide reports explaining the reasoning behind last week's program closures
Rory Haley
Photos: Rory Haley
March 11, 2026 Revised: March 11, 2026 4:59pm
Photo: Rory Haley
Demonstrators gather, holding flags and signs at the Show Your Work rally on March 10 at Algonquin College.
Over 100 demonstrators gathered on Woodroffe Avenue on March 10 demanding more explanations for recent program cuts at Algonquin College.
The rally was sparked by the Board of Governors’ March 2 vote to suspend 30 college programs starting in the fall. These cuts will affect programs such as law clerk, horticulture, music industry arts and journalism.
According to Tracy Henderson, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 415, which represents educators, the ultimate goal of the Show Your Work rally was to draw attention to the college’s lack of transparency regarding major decision-making processes, such as program cuts.
“Show the public the efficiency and accountability report and show us numbers,” she said. “Show your work. We expect it of our students; we cannot ask anything of our students we wouldn’t expect of ourselves.”
These efficiency and accountability reports are expected to include important information such as the college’s sources of funding, revenue, potential liabilities, and student enrolment numbers.
Tracy Henderson, president of the faculty union, carries an OPSEU flag at the Show Your Work rally at Algonquin College on March 10. Photo credit: Rory Haley
Students who attended the rally wanted to bring attention to the lack of accountability from the college’s Board of Governors.
Dustin Larocque, a Level 2 illustration and concept art student and class representative, attended the rally to spread awareness about the cuts.
“Part of what I was trying to do personally as a class rep for my class was to get answers for my peers who were all very confused and scared of what’s happening,” Larocque said. “And even after cuts were made, we still haven’t gotten a single explanation. And so, when I found out about this rally, that is calling for exactly what we, what I, was looking for. “
Demonstrators hold signs in support of the law program at Algonquin College during the 'Show Your Work' rally on March 10. Photo credit: Rory Haley
Sydney Sheftel, also a Level 2 illustration and concept art student, was frustrated with the college’s communication.
“It’s just so disheartening and so disappointing that the school is so unwilling and deliberately doesn’t want to listen,” Sheftel said. “It’s just very frustrating, and hopefully there’s something that we can do by making people aware of this.”
At the rally, speakers urged the college to provide more evidence regarding these cuts.
Colin Mills, co-ordinator of the music industry arts program, shared his concerns about the closure of the program. His program has a 92 per cent employment rate and an 82 per cent graduation rate, according to Mills.
“Those are numbers of a hulky quarter. Those are numbers of a program delivering for its students and employers,” he said. “And yet, in the same budget meeting, we heard a new term we’d never heard before: negative contribution. Hey, look at this, suddenly, a program that had been long considered healthy was being framed as a problem. Cite your sources.”
Colin Mills speaks to demonstrators at the Show Your Work rally on March 10 at Algonquin College. Photo credit: Rory Haley
Henderson also publicly called for the college’s transparency at the rally.
“Major academic changes and decisions should not be made behind closed doors, no,” she said. “They should include students, employees and the community that they are here to serve.”
Algonquin College has attributed a lot of these cuts to the lack of international student tuition. In January 2024, the federal government implemented new caps on international student study permits.
Recently, the Ontario government announced a $6.4-billion investment over the next four years for post-secondary institutions. The province also ended a freeze on tuition fees.
Henderson pointed to the college’s lack of funding in an interview before the rally.
“The post-secondary system in Ontario is dead last in Canada. We have been chronically underfunded for decades,” she said. “As a result, we have had to rely on other creative funding solutions. It’s created overreliance on international tuition, and that makes us really vulnerable to policy changes like we see with IRCC decisions.”
The IRCC, or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, is the federal department responsible for issuing study and work permits, as well as other travel, entry and status documents.
The Algonquin Times asked Algonquin College for comment but didn’t hear back before the publishing deadline.
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Do you want to meet other readers? The club meets once a month to discuss a book.
Naomi Cabassu
Photos: Naomi Cabassu
March 11, 2026 Revised: March 11, 2026 3:27pm
Photo: Naomi Cabassu
The book club discussing the first third of a book.
Eliana Coleman and Lily Chown didn’t see a book club on campus last fall so they started one to find a community of readers.
The AC Book Club officially started in November.
Coleman looked back to her high school days and decided to start her college experience by launching a book club.
The book club after discussing the book. Photo credit: Naomi Cabassu
Other members joined for the social experience and for reading new books and new perspectives.
“I wanted to socialize. Also, to get introduced to new books,” Michael Vogl said.
Another book club member, Muhammed Rehman, also joined for the socialization.
“I wanted to be in a more social environment. To read more books and perspectives to enjoy college,” Rehman said.
Book clubs tend to teach readers how to read books outside of their comfort zones. The club drives discussions based on readers’ perspectives of the novels.
The book club information to see what is happening. Photo credit: Naomi Cabassu
The AC Book Club met for an hour on Feb. 21 to discuss the opening chapters of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.
The book is about a woman who arrives on an island near Antarctica, unconscious and looking for her husband. On the island, a father and his three kids live there to protect a seed vault.
The next meeting is scheduled for March 21 to discuss the second third of the book.
Anyone interested in joining the club can contact @acbookclubofficial on Instagram.
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A new beginning emerges for women's wrestling as C4 Wrestling hosts its second-ever all-female event at the college
Nylah Henry
Photos: Nylah Henry
March 11, 2026 Revised: March 11, 2026 11:45am
Photo: Nylah Henry
Alexia Nicole holds up the Champions Belt after being crowned the first-ever C4 Wrestling women's champion.
The Algonquin Commons Theatre hosted C4 Wrestling’s Bring It On show on Feb. 19, a night full of adrenaline-fueled, all-female wrestling that had fans on the edge of their seats.
“I think having all-girl wrestling events is definitely a change that I love seeing. It just helps showcase powerful women in such a male-dominated sport,” said Hally Lauv, a diehard wrestling fan.
The three-hour-long, all-ages event showcased independent female wrestlers from all over North America. The large crowd created a roaring, lively atmosphere.
Billie Starkz jumps off the top rope onto Tiara James, who is lying on the ring floor. Photo credit: Nylah Henry
The second-ever all-female event hosted by C4 Wrestling helped bring recognition to independent female wrestlers who are currently dominating the wrestling scene.
Some of fans’ favourite independent wrestlers include Seleziya Sparx from Toronto, Ont., Tara Zep from Vancouver, B.C. and Alexia Nicole from Toronto, Ont., who just became the first-ever C4 Wrestling women’s champion.
“It’s so cool that these kinds of events exist,” said Alexa Volvo, an amateur wrestler and wrestling enthusiast. “When I first started wrestling, I was so fascinated by WWE, and I’m in awe that I got to experience something so similar, and it being all female wrestlers is the cherry on top.”
C4 Wrestling is scheduled to host its next show on March 13 at the Preston Event Centre on St. Anthony Street in Ottawa.
The recent provincial government announcement sends worry and frustration across the Algonquin College community
Ryan Harkness
Photos: Ryan Harkness
March 11, 2026 Revised: March 11, 2026 10:41am
Photo: Ryan Harkness
Jackson Bedard-McQuaig, a film and media production student, uses a Friday night as studio time. OSAP changes could affect enrolment in all programs, including his.
The Ontario government on Feb. 12. announced major changes to the Ontario Students Assistance Program (OSAP), concerning Algonquin College students and student advocates.
Starting next fall, OSAP users will get a maximum 25 per cent of funding as grants and a minimum 75 per cent for loans. This new policy for the next academic year is a major change from the current formula of 85 per cent for grants and 15 per cent for loans.
The new formula means OSAP students will have to pay back more money. This is in addition to having the tuition freeze discontinued, allowing post-secondary institutions to raise tuition up to two per cent per year.
The province has said in a news release that the formula changes are to “strengthen the long term sustainability of OSAP and to bring it in line with other provinces.”
Student Central, location in the basement of C-building, is where students can access financial aid services. Photo credit: Ryan Harkness
The Algonquin College community has many students who rely on OSAP, using it as a crucial way to access post-secondary opportunities they could otherwise not afford. With rising unemployment, youth are looking for ways to make them more competitive for the job market.
Alyssa Barrett, an Algonquin College student, has enjoyed the benefits of OSAP throughout her post-secondary education.
“I rely on OSAP for probably the bulk of funding every year. It’s worked for me. It’s great,” said Barrett. “It’s really irritating to not have grants that I don’t have to pay back as an option.”
Barrett previously went to university before attending college and would like to go back to university after graduating from Algonquin. Less funding from OSAP grants and the removal of the tuition cap means she will be under harder circumstances at the end of her program.
“It really feels like they are setting us up for failure,” said Barrett. “You reduce the amount of grants that we get and then obviously colleges and universities are going to raise their tuition because they can, and they will. At the end of the day, they are businesses, so they will profit off of us.”
Alyssa Barrett looks through her notes while enjoying a Starbucks beverage in the Student Commons. Photo credit: Ryan Harkness
Other Algonquin College students who are eligible to get OSAP grants before the formula change are concerned about the impact to high-demand programs.
“I kind of think it’s disgusting,” said Jackson Bedard-McQuaig, an Algonquin College student. “They tell us to go into these programs. We need more technicians, we need more engineers, we need more nurses. We need all this, and you’re not giving the opportunity to do these things?”
Bedard-McQuaig has heard negative opinions from his fellow students about the government’s OSAP announcement.
“It’s been the talk of the town,” said Bedard-McQuaig. “I don’t think I have heard a single person be in support of this decision.”
Ontario already has one of the largest post-secondary sectors in the country and some of the highest tuition fees. In a written statement, Cyrielle Ngeleka, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, said other provinces have maintained stronger grant-based assistance and lower tuition.
“Ontario pairing a 2 per cent increase for the next three years and a shift in the OSAP structure with no new money invested in the program translates to students in the province graduating with more debt than their counterparts across the country,” said Ngeleka. “The province ranks last for per-student public funding.”
Ngeleka is concerned about students’ access to post secondary education being tied to their ability to pay off school debt.
“Let’s make it clear: that is not students’ burden to carry — it is the government’s responsibility. Yet Ontario has shown as clear as day their deprioritizing of the post-secondary sector, normalizing the currency of debt as the price of an education,” said Ngeleka.
Bedard-McQuaig would like to see more funds put towards post-secondary education.
“I’m not the one who knows the system, they do, but you don’t need to be able to make a film to say that a film is bad,” said Bedard-McQuaig.
As the school continues carving expenses, Algonquin College food services employees worry for their jobs
Reilly Armstrong
Photos: Reilly Armstrong
March 10, 2026 Revised: March 10, 2026 11:38am
Photo: Reilly Armstrong
Students eating and studying outside The Fix, one of Algonquin's food service locations.
Algonquin College could outsource its food services by the fall semester, leaving many employees uncertain about their futures with the school.
Grant Perry, the college’s vice-president of finance and administration, announced on March 10 that the college is “entering the negotiation phase” with a supplier as they finalize a contract.
According to Perry’s message to the college community, food services would transition to the external company over the summer with full implementation done by the start of the fall semester. Perry didn’t identify the company in his message.
The outsourcing of food services applies to the services currently run by the college at the Ottawa campus. The plan doesn’t apply to any food outlets run by the Algonquin Students’ Association.
The college said last August it was looking into outsourcing food services, citing financial losses, rising operational costs and increased competition as reasons for the decision.
There was no news until March 9, when the college closed all its food services locations for 90 minutes so staff could meet.
“The meeting was just to say they are entering negotiations with a specific vendor. They would not divulge much more information than that,” said food service worker and Algonquin graduate Nick Weedon.
The decision is another in the college’s attempts to remain a financially viable institution.
Weedon says he understands the pressure the college is facing but has concerns about moving forward.
Nick Weedon thinks food service workers should be cautious, but not afraid, of the outsourcing. Photo credit: Reilly Armstrong
“They’ve got to make cuts. There’s no money,” said Weedon.
“(But) because we do have higher quality food, and (it’s) affordable, there’s value there. There’s quantity, there’s variety, all those big keywords. That is a draw for people wanting to come here and attend college, get a diploma from here. All of that factors in.
“And now, if you take all the programs out of it, and you change food service to something less desirable, allegedly less desirable, I’m trying to be diplomatic, right? But yeah, then it might make people think twice.”
Weedon graduated from the hospitality management program and found a job at his alma mater.
“There’s a lot of workplace morale and culture and everything, and because we’ve been working together for so long, there’s a lot of camaraderie there,” said Weedon. “We’ve been in the trenches with each other for a long time.”
Weedon’s concern comes from whether the company that buys the college’s food service contract will provide comparable salaries, hours and benefits packages for the current workers.
“I think that a lot of staff are concerned, obviously, about job security. If the new company comes in, what that’s gonna look like for their current contract, if it’s gonna be comparable to it,” said Weedon.
Weedon believes that during his decade-long employment at the college, Algonquin has upheld its four core values of caring, respect, integrity and learning.
“I would hope that any new company that comes in would uphold those values.” said Weedon.
Perry said the college will be holding information sessions for staff and making human resources available to answer questions about the transition.
“This decision does not reflect the dedication or professionalism of our Food Services team,” Perry said in his message.
“For many years, our in-house team has supported the daily needs of learners, employees, and guests, and the College is grateful for their longstanding service and continued commitment to the campus community.”
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