Canadian Money Brief | October 19, 2026 CFB Wainwright Fire: What We Know and How to Help Without Getting Scammed Four Canadian soldiers are dead and 39 people were hurt after a grass fire overtook a live-fire training exercise in Alberta. When tragedy hits, Canadians want to help. Scammers know it. What happened On Saturday, October 17, a fire ignited in a training area at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, about 200 km southeast of Edmonton. Officials say it began as a grass fire during training that included grenades and live ammunition. Military leaders said the fire was known to range control for hours and was believed to be contained enough for training to continue. Then the wind turned. Reporting from Al Jazeera and ABC News describes gusts jumping from about 50 km/h to as high as 96 km/h, pushing the flames toward soldiers and their administrative area. Defence officials said 84 members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were in the training area. Four servi...
Peak of Sensitive Cherry Blossoms in Toronto Faces Frost Threat
As Toronto eagerly anticipates the annual cherry blossom peak, a sudden threat looms overhead. The delicate cherry blossoms, known for their vibrant displays, are at risk due to the possibility of frost. With overnight lows expected to dip below freezing and little to no wind, the potential frost could jeopardize the blossoms’ beauty
The High Park cherry blossoms are currently in their most sensitive stage
regarding weather threats, specifically frost. As of April 19, they reached
Stage 5, with a minority of sakura flowers having opened up in the park,
representing nearly 20% growth. However, warmer weather is needed for them to
enter full bloom. Other parts of the city, including
near the University of Toronto, have already experienced trees in full bloom as
early as April 15 this year.
Unfortunately, frost poses a hazard to the quality of this year’s bloom.
In previous years, extreme cold temperatures led to disappointing displays. For
instance, in 2016, 14 consecutive frosts during the first half of April
resulted in only a 25% peak bloom in early May. Two years later, the situation
was even worse, with three consecutive frosts late into April after a 10-day
mild stretch. The killing frost materialized during
the flower’s most sensitive stage, causing the bloom to fail to materialize.
The critical temperature for cherry blossoms is colder than -2°C, beyond which damage can occur. Let’s hope that this year’s flowers prove extra resilient as Toronto faces back-to-back consecutive frosts and another forecasted event that may impact the bloom.
If you’re in Toronto, consider visiting High Park this weekend to witness the cherry blossoms for yourself. Fingers crossed that Mother Nature is kind to these delicate blooms!
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