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The Mortgage Renewal Wave Just Peaked — Here's What the Data Actually Shows

Published August 30, 2026 For three years, "the mortgage renewal wall" has been the scariest phrase in Canadian personal finance — the idea that a flood of ultra-cheap, pandemic-era mortgages would come due at much higher rates and trigger a wave of forced sales. That wall is now mostly behind us. Two new 2026 surveys, one from Royal LePage and one from Rates.ca, show what actually happened when it hit. The short version: it hurt, budgets tightened hard for a lot of people, but the mass default many feared simply didn't show up. The last big group is renewing right now Royal LePage's 2026 Mortgage Renewal Survey, released August 19 and based on a Leger poll of 1,127 Canadians renewing this year, pins down where things stand: about 12% of all outstanding Canadian mortgages are five-year, fixed-payment loans taken out during the 2020–2022 ultra-low-rate window, and this is their last major renewal wave. The Bank of Canada's overnight rate sat at just 0.25% through m...

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Ukrainians Reflect on Two Years Since Russia’s Invasion

 

As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, the streets of Kyiv resonate with a mix of emotions. For Ukrainians, it’s a time to look back at the past two years of conflict, marked by resilience, loss, and hope.

Nearly six million Ukrainians were displaced from their homeland after Russia launched a new military invasion on February 24, 2022. Among them is Yuliia Siemak, a 24-year-old who fled her city of Mykolaiv. Her journey took her from Turkey to Montreal and Quebec City, finally settling in Ottawa. Siemak now works for a non-profit organization, connecting Ukrainian women with employment opportunities.

One poignant photo in Siemak’s camera roll captures her “brave but terrified cat” seeking refuge in a library basement during air raids in her region. It was taken just three days into the invasion. Siemak’s family also fled Mykolaiv, leaving behind their home and memories.

For Siemak, Ottawa has become a comforting political hub. Amid the city’s diverse community and exquisite cuisines, she finds solace. With her immediate family scattered across different places—her brother in Alberta, and her parents in Turkey and Germany—being in Ottawa allows her to be with her people.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is organizing a rally on Parliament Hill this Saturday at 3 p.m. The event aims to grieve those who lost their lives since Russia’s full-scale invasion and honor the resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Canadians from coast to coast have been invited, and embassy representatives from Denmark, Poland, and Germany are expected to attend.

As we mark this solemn occasion, let us remember the strength and determination of the Ukrainian people. Despite the challenges, they stand united, unwavering in their pursuit of peace and justice.


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