Skip to main content

Featured

Ontario Auto Insurance Just Changed: What Every Driver Needs to Know Before July 1

  If you drive in Ontario, this affects you — starting July 1, 2026 , the biggest shake-up to Ontario's auto insurance system in decades is here. Nine benefits that were automatically included in every policy for years are now optional extras you have to pay for separately — or go without. The Ford government is calling it consumer choice. Critics are calling it a coverage cliff. Either way, Ontario drivers need to understand what just changed before their next policy renewal — because the default "basic" plan is now much leaner than what you're used to. From Standard Package to À La Carte Ontario's auto insurance has always included a bundle of Statutory Accident Benefits (SABs) — no-fault coverage that kicks in when you're hurt in a collision, regardless of who caused it. Think income replacement, caregiver support, funeral costs. They were simply part of the deal. That changes now. Starting July 1, 2026, only three categories of benefits remain mandatory in...

article

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.



Comments