Articles by Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press

Jun 30 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — Canada's top doctor says negotiations are underway for more vaccine to curtail monkeypox as confirmed cases reached 278 nationwide. Chief public health officer Theresa Tam says there are "continuing discussions and contract negotiations" to obtain doses from Bavarian Nordic, the Danish manufacturer of a smallpox vaccine approved for use against monkeypox. She says current doses […]

Jun 30 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — Federal health officials are bracing Canadians for another round of COVID-19 vaccines expected to roll out in the fall, and are urging those behind on their boosters to catch up now. Canada's chief public health officer Theresa Tam says circulating Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are even more transmissible and able to evade immunity than […]

Jun 29 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — Film and TV actress Sandra Oh and track champion Donovan Bailey are among dozens of performers, athletes, advocates and experts newly named to Canada's highest civilian honour. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon announced 85 appointees to the Order of Canada on Wednesday, touting luminaries in fields including film, music, science, politics, business, academics, sport and culture. […]

Jun 23 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Skipping the occasional meal has become the norm for Tara Andrews, who says soaring grocery prices have made it too hard to adequately feed herself and her two teens. Even with help from food donations and her retired parents, the 49-year-old single mom says the skyrocketing cost of living is more than she […]

Jun 14 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Travel and hospitality experts say pandemic-battered businesses are increasingly recognizing a longstanding blindspot that if addressed could help them rebound this summer: the BIPOC traveller. Interest in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has exploded over the past year or so among operators keen to repair relationships and expand their reach, says the head […]

Jun 14 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Travel and hospitality experts say pandemic-battered businesses are increasingly recognizing a longstanding blindspot that if addressed could help them rebound this summer: the BIPOC traveller. Interest in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has exploded over the past year or so among operators keen to repair relationships and expand their reach, says the head […]

Jun 9 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Bell Media is touting a post-pandemic splurge on original Canadian series, with its flagship CTV leaning into competition shows while streaming service Crave adds distinctly Canuck comedies to its lineup. The media giant detailed a swath of homegrown orders for advertisers Thursday that also featured several BIPOC-led shows across its properties, and an […]

May 24 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — Health Canada said Tuesday it is working "to address potential sunflower oil shortages" that could further strain baby formula supplies and will keep its relaxed rules on formula imports until at least the end of the year. In yet another twist for the ongoing formula saga, the federal agency is now monitoring concerns around the […]

May 14 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — National gas prices continued their staggering rise this weekend, with drivers in Vancouver told to brace for as much as $2.34 per litre at the pumps. Figures on the fuel tracker GasBuddy showed the national average price of regular gas reached $1.95 per litre on Saturday afternoon, with provincial averages reaching $2.15 in Newfoundland and […]

May 10 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children says it has identified seven probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin. The research and pediatric hospital, also known as SickKids, says the mysterious cases were identified between Oct. 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022 and reported to Public Health Ontario.  "It remains to be seen whether this […]

May 6 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — For many moms, Mother's Day is a welcome chance to indulge in a lavish brunch, receive a special gift or spend meaningful time with their families.   But many new moms are discovering a much different impulse once their newborn arrives: the desire to be left alone. The phenomenon is casually known as […]

Apr 29 2022 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Canadian “Jeopardy!” champ Mattea Roach extended an impressive win streak Thursday with her 18th consecutive triumph. It allows the 23-year-old to face another pair of challengers Friday, when victory would move her up the ranking for top consecutive wins. She currently has the eighth-longest win streak in the program's history but one more […]

Apr 9 2021 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — Organizing a royal tour is a demanding task to begin with, but when it involved Prince Philip, his Canadian coordinators knew to expect the unexpected. Philip might eschew a motorcade and insist on walking. He would request local maps that he would scan in the car or aircraft en route to his next event. He […]

Apr 9 2021 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — Organizing a royal tour is a demanding task to begin with, but when it involved Prince Philip, his Canadian coordinators knew to expect the unexpected. Philip might eschew a motorcade and insist on walking. He would request local maps that he would scan in the car or aircraft en route to his next event. He […]

Mar 31 2021 — Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press — TORONTO — Working age Canadians have been hit hard by the escalating pandemic, and now they're drawing a significant chunk of the blame, too. British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Quebec Premier Francois Legault have been among those to suggest increasing infections and hospitalizations among younger age groups are at least partly because of failure […]