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Canada's Rent Slide Is Finally Stalling — What It Means If You Rent or Rent Out

  Published August 13, 2026 For nearly two years, "Canadian rents are falling" has been one of the safest headlines in personal finance. The August 2026 National Rent Report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation, released last week, suggests that streak may finally be running out of road — and the shift matters whether you're the one paying rent or the one collecting it. The Numbers National avg. asking rent (July) $2,037 Year-over-year change -4.0% (22nd straight monthly decline) Month-over-month change +0.2% (4th straight monthly rise) Toronto, month-over-month +1.6% to $2,577 Falling, But Not as Fast Rent is still dropping on a year-over-year basis nationally — that's now been true for 22 straight months. But the pace of the decline has been easing since it bottomed out in March, and July marked the smallest annual drop since February. On a month-to-month basis, rent has now risen for four months running, which typically happens every summer as the market hits its season...

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A Symbol of Hope: Tiny Christmas Tree Amidst Church Ruins in Lebanon

 

In the southern Lebanese town of Dardghaya, amidst the ruins of the 18th-century St. George Melkite Catholic Church, a tiny Christmas tree now stands as a symbol of hope and resilience. The church, devastated by an Israeli airstrike in October, once served as a vibrant community center. 

Georges Elia, a 40-year-old municipal worker and churchgoer, took it upon himself to bring some normalcy to the holiday season. "This year, Christmas is arriving with sadness for us, but we didn't want it to be a sad one for the town's residents and its church," Elia said. 

The modest tree, shorter than Elia himself, is decorated with a shining garland and a star. Despite the lack of lights and a traditional Nativity scene due to the war's destruction, the tree stands tall among the fallen stones and shattered pews. "But, of course, Christ is born in our hearts, lit with our love for him," Elia added.

The church's priest, Father Maurice el Khoury, who has served for 11 years, conducts Sunday Mass in a small underground room that once housed visiting bishops. "This room is more like the cave where Jesus was born," he said, reminding families of the true essence of the holiday season.

The community's faith remains unshaken, and despite the staggering financial toll of the damage, estimated at nearly $3 million, they continue to celebrate Christmas with hope and love.



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