Two Canadian astronauts are set to play important roles in getting NASA back to the moon if all goes well this week.

Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons are members of the Artemis II mission, a 10-day lunar fly-around and the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago.

Hansen, 50, of London, Ont., will serve as the mission specialist and become the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit. He will be joined by veteran NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Gibbons, 37, of Calgary, Alta., will serve as Hansen’s backup in the unlikely event he can’t fly; she has gone through years of the same training as those on the rocket and during the mission Gibbons will serve as a voice link to space from Earth.

NASA has targeted an April 1 launch for Artemis II, with a six-day launch window running through April 6.

Here is what you need to know about Hansen and Gibbons:

Hansen’s journey into aviation began at the age of 12 when he joined the 614 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in London, his biography on the Canadian Space Agency’s website reads.

He eventually earned his pilot licenses and wings and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., in 1999.

Between 2004 and 2009, Hansen served as a CF-18 fighter pilot with the 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, as well as the combat operations officer at 4 Wing Operations, where his responsibilities included effectiveness of NORAD operations, deployed exercises and Arctic flying operations.

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Hansen, who achieved the rank of colonel, was recruited into the Canadian Space Agency in 2009; he graduated from astronaut candidate training in 2011, and six years later, he became the first Canadian to lead a NASA training astronaut class.

5:13
Jeremy Hansen poised to make lunar history for Canada with upcoming Artemis Mission

Three years ago, he was assigned to Artemis II as a mission specialist; the objective of the mission is to test Orion’s systems, perform various science and operational tasks, conduct a lunar flyby and take photos of the moon’s surface before returning to Earth.

While the commander and pilot will take care of the launch and landing operations, the whole crew will split all the other operations, the Canadian Space Agency said.

A decade ago, Gibbons was working as an assistant professor in internal combustion engines at the University of Cambridge. She was recruited into the Canadian Space Agency just a year later and graduated in 2020.

That same year, she managed the Mission Control Capcom Console as International Space Station Lead Capcom and supported the on-orbit crew and their families during Expedition 63, the Canadian Space Agency said.

In 2022, she was assigned to mentor the 2021 astronaut class through their spacewalk training and was named Hansen’s backup on Artemis II a year later.

During the mission, Gibbons will be part of a team coaching Hansen and the other astronauts on key mission objectives.

The Canadian Space Agency added Gibbons will be a key contributor to defining and validating crew training requirements and processes for future moon missions. Gibbons will also train to act as a capcom (capsule communicator) to support future missions to the moon and as an astronaut support person, who buckles the crew into Orion and prepares them for launch.

5:12
Calgary astronaut to train for Artemis II mission to the moon

Once the Artemis II mission is complete, Artemis III will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft needed to land astronauts on the moon.

NASA is scheduled to announce specifics on the Artemis III mission design and crew closer to launch in 2027; it plans on returning humans to the lunar surface in early 2028 as part of Artemis IV.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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Alberta’s government is calling on Ottawa to change the Constitution to give provinces more of a say in how judges are appointed at the provincial level.

It comes after Premier Danielle Smith and the premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec wrote a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney last week saying they would like to see only judges who are approved and recommended by their governments be appointed.

That request was quickly brushed aside by federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser, and Alberta’s government says it now needs to up the ante.

2:15
Alberta lawyers raise concerns over Alberta government push for more input for federal judges

Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery told reporters Monday that the government will pass a motion in the Alberta legislature later this week calling for the necessary changes to the Constitution to have their call put into place. They’re hoping other provinces, Parliament and the Senate will do the same.

Quebec had passed its own motion nearly a year ago, and Smith and Amery said their motion would be identical.

“Thus far we’ve not had the progress that we were hoping for, especially through the sort of diplomatic routes,” Amery said of why the government was now formally calling for an amendment to the Constitution.

“We’re now looking for some more meaningful and consequential changes through the motion, and hopefully through the support of the Parliament.”

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The Constitution currently states that Ottawa alone has the right to appoint provincial superior and appeal court judges. Changing it in this case would require approval in the House of Commons, the Senate and by at least seven provinces whose combined population represents more than half of all provinces combined.

The judicial appointment process put forward by the premiers has been criticized as a way to politicize the courts, but Smith says it’s important for provinces to have a say in how justice gets delivered.

“It’s time for Alberta to have a real voice in selecting the judges who serve Albertans,” she said.

Smith also reiterated her argument Monday that Canada is an outlier compared to some other countries, including the U.S. and Australia, where state- or provincial-level judges are appointed by state or provincial governments.

“Addressing this gap will strengthen public confidence in the justice system and ensure provinces have a meaningful voice in appointments that shape how justice is delivered in their communities,” Smith said Monday.

2:01
Alberta premier demands more say in federal judicial appointments

Bianca Kratt, the president of the Canadian Bar Association, which represents more than 40,000 lawyers, judges and other legal professions, said in her own letter to Carney last week that comparing Canada to the U.S., for example, wasn’t applicable.

She said the justice system in each country works according to the respective constitutional framework and in Canada provincial judges have the authority to strike down federal law, whereas state-level judges are largely limited to state matters.

Opposition NDP critic Irfan Sabir told reporters Monday that Smith had “no credibility” when it came to upholding the justice system, noting various instances where she has criticized judges as being “activists” or called them “unelected judges.”

“Here we are supposed to trust them that they will do something that will strengthen our judiciary? No, this government cannot be trusted,” Sabir said.

“They just find every opportunity that they can (to) pick some needless fight with the federal government.”

Smith had sent another letter to Carney earlier this year asking for judicial reform, and threatened to withhold some court funding should Ottawa ignore the call. Amery said the threat wasn’t off the table but that normal funding had been maintained for the new fiscal year.

The first proposal, which was also quickly dismissed by Fraser, would see a new type of committee be struck to assess potential judicial appointees in Alberta. It would feature an equal number of provincial and federal representatives, Smith had said.

1:55
Alberta judges make a statement about judicial independence after premier said she wants to ‘direct’ them

The existing seven-person committee that assesses applications from lawyers to be appointed provincial court judges and makes recommendations to Ottawa features one representative from the provincial government and three from the federal government.

It also includes appointees from Alberta’s chief justice, the provincial law society and the Canadian Bar Association’s Alberta chapter.

Similar committees exist for every province and territory.

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With Saskatchewan struggling to keep up with breast cancer care, an initiative sending patients to Calgary to receive care is bringing down the wait list by 87 per cent.

The NDP says Saskatchewan needs to put in more effort for residents to receive care at home.

“When you’re paying upwards of 10 times as much money to send someone out of province for basic breast diagnostics, it’s very concerning and it speaks to me about the fact that this government is not prioritizing health care and not prioritizing health care for women in this province,” said Vicki Mowat, Sask. NDP deputy leader.

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But Breast Cancer Canada CEO Kimberly Carson says having the alternative of out of province care is a step in the right direction.

“It’s maybe not ideal, but at least tackling the program and finding a solution that’s working, and it’s showing the difference in the results right now,” Carson said. “So, I applaud any province that tries to deal with wait times, tackling these big issues. It can’t be easy.”

With the province adding more diagnostics and lowering the age of access for a mammogram, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill says he doesn’t want to take his foot off the gas.

“I’ve said it in the house: we will turn over every rock we need to, to make sure patients get the timely care they need,” Cockrill said.

While Carson says getting out of province care isn’t ideal, it can still be life-changing.

“We know that the health care systems across the country are having a hard time keeping up,” Carson said. “So, anything that we can do to make sure that patients are screened and screened early and properly and that they have access to treatment as quickly as possible, those outcomes are so much different.”

Watch above for more on the Saskatchewan breast cancer wait list decreasing.

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Vanier College is apologizing after facing criticism for postponing a Holocaust commemoration event, acknowledging it failed to fully consider the impact of the decision.

In a statement sent to Global News, the college said its 34th Holocaust and Genocide Symposium went ahead as planned last week, featuring multiple educational activities and guest speakers for students, faculty and staff.

However, the college said the decision to reschedule the commemorative portion of the event was made amid heightened attention to safety and security.

“In doing so, the College acknowledges that it did not fully consider the significance and impact that such a change could carry. This was an oversight,” the statement said.

1:34
Holocaust survivor calls Montreal college’s decision to cancel commemoration ‘cowardly’

The college extended “sincere apologies” to those affected, “especially to Ms. Eva Kuper and all Holocaust survivors,” and said it is taking full responsibility.

It added it is working with the event organizer to hold a rescheduled commemoration for students and staff “under conditions that allow it to proceed with the respect and attention it deserves.”

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The apology follows criticism from Kuper, a Holocaust survivor and educator, who had been scheduled to speak at the event before it was cancelled less than a week in advance.

“It was very disappointing that Vanier decided to cancel the commemoration in fear,” Kuper told Global News on Thursday, saying she had been told there were concerns about possible demonstrations.

“When fear rules your decisions rather than conviction of what is right, that’s dangerous,” she said. “I think that it was cowardly.”

Vanier had said earlier the decision to postpone the commemorative event — while continuing the broader symposium — was made despite no specific threat, citing the current geopolitical context and advice from its security team.

The college’s director general, Benoit Morin, previously described the situation as a “misunderstanding,” adding the decision applied only to the commemoration and not the symposium’s broader programming.

The Jewish Community Council of Montreal also condemned the move, calling it “a disgraceful act of capitulation” and emphasizing the importance of preserving opportunities for survivor testimony.

In its latest statement, Vanier said it values its longstanding relationship with the Jewish community and remains committed to remembrance, education and dialogue.

1:56
Auschwitz survivor warns of rising antisemitism on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

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A window at the Kelowna Vapor Lounge in West Kelowna, B.C., remains boarded up five days after a smash-and-grab at the newly-opened business.

“It’s disheartening,” said Kristin Greenwood, Vapor Lounge manager.

The vape shop on Carrington Road only opened four months ago.

Last Wednesday, a break-in and theft left the shop with several thousands of dollars in property damage and $5,000 in stolen merchandise.

“They were in here less than a minute,” said Greenwood.

It was just after 3:30 a.m. when a smashed window triggered the security alarm.

Security video shows two suspects gaining entry into the shop and loading disposable vape products into a bag before fleeing the scene.

The stolen merchandise include ABT-branded products and Hi5.

“It looked like they knew exactly where to go,” Greenwood said. “They never went further than where they needed to go and they were in and out real quick.”

2:07
Two Kelowna coffee shops hit by smash and grabs

RCMP did not provide any information on the investigation or whether any suspects have been identified, but Greenwood says it appears they’re youth.

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“They were wearing, like, childish kind of clothing. It definitely looked like kids to me, just the way they were behaving,” Greenwood said.

“They are covered up. They were wearing skeleton gloves, hoodies. One had long hair and a very distinct hoodie.”

It’s that distinct hoodie that Greenwood says he hopes helps track down those responsible.

The hoodie has a distinct logo by a brand called ‘Rare Americans’.

Greenwood said the biggest concern is that the stolen products will be re-sold to minors.

“Schools and high schools, that’s probably where they’re going to try and resell it,” Greenwood said. “Obviously we don’t want this in the hands of youth.”

Greenwood urging the community to keep an eye out and alert police of any of these kinds of illegal sales.

Shop operators are also looking at implementing bars on windows to prevent something like this from happening again.

2:14
Kelowna neighbourhood concerned over crime

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Talks between Canada and the United States to reduce sectoral tariffs have resumed “in a sense,” Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended them last fall.

“We were in the process of advancing, we thought, in a positive way on the sectoral tariffs — that was the discussion that Mr. Trump suspended,” LeBlanc told reporters in Ottawa.

He then pointed to his meeting on March 6 in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, where the Canadian minister introduced Greer to chief U.S. trade negotiator Janice Charette and U.S. Ambassador Mark Wiseman — both of whom began their new roles last month.

LeBlanc said Charette also had her first meeting with her direct counterpart in Greer’s office at the same time.

“So in a sense, that would have been the resumption of those conversations,” LeBlanc said, adding more conversations have been held between himself, Wiseman and Charrette with their U.S. counterparts.

“We remain seized both with the challenge that the sectoral tariffs represent and the review of CUSMA (the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on free trade),” which is set to formally begin in July between all three countries.

The bottom line, LeBlanc said later, is that Canadian talks with U.S. counterparts “remain productive and we remain engaged. That is different than October.”

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Trump in October suspended talks aimed at reducing his tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and other Canadian industries in anger over an Ontario government ad that quoted former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized to Trump personally for the ad, but Trump said the trade talks remained on hold.

Before the suspension, LeBlanc said Canada and the U.S. had been discussing “a series of measures that we thought would have been beneficial to the economy of both countries, and we continue to have those discussions and look forward — we hope — to arriving at a conclusion.”

Greer has since suggested difficulties in talks with Canada and complained about ongoing trade barriers, including provinces refusing to sell American alcohol products.

He said this month after the meeting with LeBlanc that “Canada is behind” on bilateral talks leading up to this summer’s CUSMA review compared to Mexico, which has already begun formal negotiations with the U.S.

0:53
Most Americans oppose tariffs on Canadian goods, poll finds

LeBlanc said Monday he expects Canada to begin its own negotiations with the U.S. “in due course” and that those will be separate from the trilateral talks expected later this year.

He said he has discussed the U.S. alcohol issue with premiers and provincial and territorial ministers, but wouldn’t speak for whether they are considering lifting the bans to help smooth things over with Washington.

“They can make the decisions they want,” he said.

“All the provinces and territories and the government of Canada have been working collaboratively to ensure that we protect the Canadian economy and Canadian workers. And we’re in a position to have those discussions with the Americans in a way that will benefit the Canadian economy and Canadian workers.”

Asked if Canada’s position on the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran has affected the talks in any way, LeBlanc said it hasn’t.

“The good news is in my conversations with U.S. officials, this has not been an impediment at all,” he said.

“I know in the prime minister’s discussion with the president a few weeks ago … to say that that was a barrier or an impediment, or even the idea of a ‘changing position,’ I wouldn’t share that view either.”

He added neither Charrette or Wiseman have raised Iran as an issue that’s come up in their conversations with the Americans either.

The sectoral tariffs remain in place despite the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Trump’s tariffs that were imposed under a different, emergency powers provision the court ruled Trump has misused.

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From reducing the number of visits to how much food is given out, food banks across Canada are changing how they operate as demand has become “unprecedented.”

Earlier this month, the food bank in Moose Jaw, Sask., said visitors had increased by 150 per cent compared to four years ago, forcing the non-profit to decide to hand out goods once a month instead of its current twice-monthly pickup program.

But service changes are happening from coast to coast to coast, with Food Banks Alberta saying it hasn’t slowed down.

“What we’re seeing really across the country and certainly across the province of Alberta has been just unprecedented growth in demand and need for food support and service from food banks,” said Melissa From, a board member of Food Banks Alberta.

From, who is also president and CEO of the Calgary Food Bank, said it really started with the “pivotal moment” of the COVID-19 pandemic when issues of employment and income insecurity struck. After that, Canada-wide inflation raised the costs of things like mortgages, fuel and food, which spurred more requests for food.

According to Food Banks Alberta, 132,402 people received food from a food bank in the province this month, with 36 per cent of users being children.

From said increasing demand has meant changes, particularly to smaller communities, as they have less money and donations.

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“We have some food banks that are having to make the decision to give less food to more people,” she said. “We have some folks who are having to figure out how to triage the clients that are coming to them and who needs support the most, and so no two food banks are facing the same situation, although many of the same challenges.”

The story is the same in Ontario, with food banks across the province reporting economic uncertainties creating another “challenging year” for many.

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How far will Canada’s new grocery rebates go for low-income families?

Feed Ontario reports that in 2025, food banks in the province served more than one million people who accessed its services more than 8.7 million times.

The non-profit added in the 2025 survey of its network, just 33 per cent of food banks stated at the time they were able to meet demand. Others had to adapt.

“So whether that be having to adapt their services, reduce from every single week to visiting twice a month to instead of providing seven days worth of food, providing five days worth of food to cutting wraparound support,” said Carolyn Stewart, CEO of Feed Ontario.

Stewart said some employees of food banks have also reported purchasing food for their programs, because they’ve also faced a decline in donations as previous donors have also been facing their own financial difficulties.

Despite the increased need, Stewart told Global News that even with food banks stretched, people should not be discouraged from visiting.

“If you’re in need and you’re in need of food, please come in the door,” she said.

Food Banks Canada notes food insecurity is stretching from big cities like Vancouver and Toronto to small communities like Moose Jaw or Truro, N.S.

Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, said issues like the cost of housing are pushing people towards the service.

“This isn’t a problem for one part of the country or one type of community,” said Beardsley.

The latest Hunger Count by Food Banks Canada report found 52 per cent of food banks in its network had to give out less food than usual in 2025 and 23 per cent ran out of food before demand was met.

Beardsley said it’s why governments of all levels need to continue to address food security and put in investments and policies that can help with issues like affordable housing and the price of food that is creating this struggle.

However, she added that one broad-based policy or change isn’t going to fix it for the entire country.

“The thing about food insecurity is there isn’t sort of a silver bullet or a one-size-fits-all,” Beardsley said.

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Halifax council will be debating whether to press the provincial government for a Nova Scotia-wide registry of dangerous dogs, as well as stricter penalties when attacks occur.

Currently, the dangerous dog designation is only applied on a municipal basis and there is no inter-jurisdictional communication on animal control if an animal moves to a different municipality.

A staff report recommends a centralized registry, which would include a photo of the dog. As well, it calls on the province to introduce legislation that would allow municipalities to seize dogs without a warrant after a serious attack or if public safety is at risk. The report also suggests raising the maximum fines under the municipal bylaw to $10,000 from $5,000.

The motion to send a letter to the provincial government was moved by Coun. Trish Purdy, who represents Cole Harbour-Preston, and seconded by Coun. Cathy Deagle Gammon, who represents Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley.

“It’s really about community safety. For me, it’s about the kids in the neighbourhood being able to walk around, go to the field and play and know that they’re going to be safe,” said Deagle Gammon.

“And that if there are dogs that are in the vicinity with them, that those dogs are under the care and control of their owners.”

2:17
Calls grow for stronger animal ownership laws after deadly attack in N.S.

The move comes after a 13-year-old boy from Shelburne County died as a result of being attacked by a Rottweiler and two cane corsos in January.

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As well, there was an incident in Fall River last fall where two dogs attacked a boy.

Purdy said she’s heard about a number of alarming incidents and concerns from residents.

“They don’t (feel) that … animal bylaws are strong enough to support the victims and to help them feel safe,” she said.

According to HRM’s dangerous dog bylaw, owners must microchip their dogs and license the animal as “dangerous” within 10 days of an incident.

Owners must also keep the dog restrained or in an escape-proof enclosure, as well as leash and muzzle the dog when off the owners’ property.

Owners are also fined a minimum of $300 to $600 for attacks.

Not breed specific

Dog trainer Bob Ottenbrite, who owns Lietash Canine Academy, says he supports the move to create a provincewide registry, especially if it prevents the banning of certain breeds.

“I think the registration should go throughout Nova Scotia. That’s going to prevent people from moving from one municipality to another and just endangering a different population,” he said.

“It’s going to save all dogs rather than having certain breeds banned or certain size dogs banned. So I think it would be good for all dog people to be able to have a legislation like this.”

However, he stresses that dog behaviour ultimately comes down to training and precautionary measures.

“With the dogs, if they’re not trained properly, they’re a liability,” he said.  “And you just don’t know what they’re going to do.”

Deagle Gammon says the goal of the motion isn’t to single out certain breeds, adding that many attacks come down to the circumstances.

“It’s not that the dog is dangerous but it could be just the situation that they are put in and how they react to that situation and the kind of care and control their owners have with them,” she said.

When reached for comment, the province’s Department of Municipal Affairs said it isn’t currently considering a provincewide registry.

Halifax Regional Council will debate Tuesday whether the municipality should write the letter urging the province to do so.

— with a file from The Canadian Press

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