Independent Canadian news and explainers across politics, business, technology, world affairs and culture
Ethan Campbell 
Dean Martin’s image was a carefully crafted illusion: the martini glass on stage, the slurred delivery, the vanity plate that read “DRUNKY.” But the man behind the showbiz persona was far more disciplined than the legend suggests, and the official record tells a story that still surprises fans. Born: June 7, 1917 · Died: December … Read more
Few rock musicians are as instantly recognizable by nickname alone as the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist. But the story behind “Flea” is more than a stage name—it’s a window into a career that has spanned four decades and led to an estimated net worth of $120 million. Full birth name: Michael Peter Balzary · … Read more
Few 18-year-olds enter the NHL with as much anticipation as Macklin Celebrini. He spent his draft year living with a future Hall of Famer, won the Hobey Baker Award as a college freshman, and then went first overall to the San Jose Sharks. This article sizes up his game, compares him to Connor Bedard and … Read more
There’s a moment in the footage from May 15, 1992, that still sends chills through anyone who watches it. Chalino Sánchez, a 31‑year‑old corrido singer, was handed a note on stage at Salón Bugambilias — and the next day he was dead. Born: 30 August 1960, Guayabo, Sinaloa, Mexico · Died: 16 May 1992 (aged … Read more
If you’ve ever watched a grainy 1980s rap video and then flipped to a primetime crime drama, you’ve already seen the two sides of Ice‑T. The same man who helped define gangsta rap with raw street narratives has spent the last two decades playing a police detective on television, a pivot from music to acting … Read more
For more than a decade, Allison Mack was known as Chloe Sullivan, the plucky reporter’s sidekick on Smallville. Then came the revelation that she had been a senior recruiter for NXIVM, the self-help group that prosecutors called a criminal enterprise. In November 2025, Mack broke more than two years of silence with a series of … Read more
For fans of prestige television, Julianna Margulies is a name that sparks both admiration and curiosity, from her Emmy-winning turn as Carol Hathaway on ER to her Golden Globe-winning role as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife. But off-screen, her story includes reported feuds, controversial statements, and a net worth that reflects decades of top-tier … Read more
Few musicians generate as much conversation around their personal life as they do their music, but Ronnie Radke has managed to do both. Between a defamation lawsuit loss, a UK visa denial that derailed a major tour, and a public breakup with WWE star Saraya Bevis, the Falling in Reverse frontman has been at the … Read more
Few voices in hockey broadcasting were as instantly recognizable as John Garrett’s. The man known to Canucks fans as “Cheech” brought humor and sharp analysis to the booth for over two decades before his death in April 2026 at age 74. Born: June 17, 1951 · Died: April 27, 2026 · Nickname: Cheech · NHL … Read more
Brad Arnold wrote “Kryptonite” when he was 15 years old. It became a defining song of early 2000s rock and launched 3 Doors Down into stardom. On February 7, 2026, Arnold died at 47 after a battle with stage 4 kidney cancer, leaving fans and the music world in mourning. Born: September 27, 1978 · … Read more