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Daily Markets Update: BoC Hike Bets Jump to 80%, Alberta Votes to Stay, Brent Near $110

  Tuesday, October 20, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief  |  Covers Monday, October 19 close Canada's Monday had three things at once: a softer inflation print that didn't calm anyone, a Bank of Canada governor who spent his weekend warning that inflation is broadening, and an Alberta referendum whose votes were being counted after the closing bell. The result for markets was a down day on the TSX, a Bank of Canada hike now priced at roughly 80% for October 28, and oil at a five-month high. Wall Street, meanwhile, bounced hard in tech after last week's AI rout. Top Story: The Bank of Canada Hike Is Now the Base Case Statistics Canada reported that consumer prices rose 3.1% year over year in September , up from 3.0% in August but just below the 3.2% economists expected. The surprise to the downside didn't matter much, because the detail and the context pointed the other way: Gasoline did the damage. Pump prices were up 27.8% from a year earlier. Excluding gasoline,...

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St. Patrick’s Day: History, Celebrations, and Fun Facts


 St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated annually on March 17, holds a rich history that intertwines religion, culture, and legend. Let’s delve into the fascinating origins of this festive day:

  1. Who Was St. Patrick?

    • Saint Patrick, born in Roman Britain during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle.
    • At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. After escaping, he returned to Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to its people.
    • One of the most well-known legends associated with St. Patrick is that he used the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock, to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
  2. Early Observance in Ireland:

    • For over 1,000 years, the Irish have observed St. Patrick’s Day as a religious holiday.
    • During the Christian season of Lent, Irish families traditionally attended church in the morning and celebrated in the afternoon.
    • Lenten prohibitions against meat consumption were waived, allowing people to dance, drink, and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
  3. First St. Patrick’s Day Parade:

    • Surprisingly, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade did not take place in Ireland but in America.
    • Records show that a parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
    • Homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City on March 17, 1772, to honor the Irish patron saint.
    • Enthusiasm for St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York City, Boston, and other American cities continued to grow.
  4. Growth of Celebrations:

    • Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, leading to the rise of “Irish Aid” societies.
    • These societies held annual parades featuring bagpipes and drums.
    • In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies united their parades to form the world’s oldest civilian parade: the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which remains the largest in the United States with over 150,000 participants.

So, as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let’s raise a glass to the enduring legacy of this beloved holiday! 

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