The Edmonton-bord actor received the honour at a ceremony today, from Governor General Louise Arbour.

Michael J. Fox has been promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing his decades of work advocating for Parkinson’s disease research.

The Edmonton-born actor received the honour at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. Fox was previously appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010.

The latest honour recognizes Fox’s contributions to Parkinson’s advocacy and his efforts to advance research into the disease. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 29, Fox went public with his diagnosis in 1998 and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000.

The foundation has since become one of the largest nonprofit funders of Parkinson’s research, directing more than $3 billion toward research programs and initiatives. In a recent interview with People, he acknowledged that Parkinson’s has become more difficult to live with over the years while continuing to focus on research as a source of hope.

“We’re getting close,” Fox said of the possibility of finding a cure, adding that he is continuing to put his efforts toward advancing Parkinson’s research.

The actor has also spoken about the importance of accepting the realities of Parkinson’s without allowing the diagnosis to define his life. Fox stepped back from regular acting work in 2020 as the effects of Parkinson’s made performing more difficult, but he has continued to take occasional roles, including a recent appearance on Apple TV+’s Shrinking.

South Park, or South America as it’s called this season, skewered “weenie” billionaires and data centers on its latest episode.

In the second episode of the series’ 29th season, town resident Butters becomes upset when a colony of micro-sized “weenie” billionaires pop up in his backyard and begin building little data centers that siphon off his electricity, and thus deprive Butters of his YouTube videos.

In response, Butters calls in an exterminator to deal with the problem. “I swear there’s more of these stupid billionaires every day,” Butters says.

“Yeah well that’s the country we’re living in now, I’m afraid, but hopefully everything will change in November,” the exterminator tells him. “That’s when Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.”

The colony of “weenie” billionaires continues to expand at an alarming rate. “Billionaires have always been around, people just didn’t pay attention to them as much,” the exterminator adds.

“This is some new strain of billionaires. They like to go on podcasts and get into public arguments with Mark Ruffalo. I sprayed them so that’ll shut up for a little bit, but once they take root like this, that’s pretty much it for the town.”

The new episode — dubbed Billionaire Weenietown — also quickly lampooned anti-vaxxers, the Ed Sheeran/Macklemore situation, Joe Rogan’s podcast, and Donald Trump, with the series’ infamous deep-fake version of the president returning at the end of the episode.

The AI president sits on a toilet watching his own campaign ads when his own “teeny tiny” weenie makes a cameo, returning for the first time since the Season 27 premiere episode in July 2025.

Mike Smith, the actor best known for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys, will resume his responsibilities with the franchise after a sexual assault charge against him was dismissed in Nova Scotia on Thursday.

Smith’s three-day trial was scheduled to begin October 1 in Dartmouth Provincial Court, according to the Canadian Press. Instead, the judge dismissed the charge after Crown prosecutors told the court they would not present any evidence. Smith had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault connected to an alleged incident in December 2017. He was charged in October 2025.

Outside the courthouse, Crown lawyer Bryson McDonald said the decision followed an ongoing assessment that the prosecution standard was no longer met. He declined to provide further details about the Crown’s decision or the specific facts of the case.

Smith’s lawyer, Stan MacDonald, said his client was pleased with the dismissal and wanted to put the matter behind him.

Smith had previously stepped away from his responsibilities at Trailer Park Boys Incorporated following the charge. The company confirmed Thursday that he will now return to his role.

“The court has dismissed the charge against Michael Smith, concluding the legal proceedings that began in October 2025 regarding an allegation dating to December 2017,” Trailer Park Boys Incorporated said in a statement. “Now that he is cleared of this matter, Mike is resuming his responsibilities with Trailer Park Boys Incorporated.” The company said it would not comment further.

Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady attend the premiere of "Heated Rivalry" at TIFF Lightbox on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady, the executive producers behind hit hockey romance series Heated Rivalry, have launched the Irina Foundation through their production company, Accent Aigu Entertainment. The private fund will support organizations creating opportunities for LGBTQIA2S+ and underserved communities to participate in sports and the arts, with an emphasis on connection, belonging and mental well-being.

The name comes directly from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers novels, the books that inspired Heated Rivalry. In the series, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov establish their own Irina Foundation, named after Ilya’s late mother. The fictional organization supports inclusion and mental health initiatives, including a youth hockey camp.

The real-life foundation will provide support to existing organizations whose sports and arts programs align with its mission. Kate Spade New York is the foundation’s inaugural donor, while men’s grooming company Harry’s is among its early supporters.

“For many of us, some of life’s most meaningful moments happen on a team, in a studio or on a stage,” Tierney and Brady said in a statement. “The Foundation is our way of giving back.”

The launch follows a significant fundraising effort surrounding Heated Rivalry. According to Accent Aigu, the company, its partners and fans have raised more than $1.5 million USD in recent months for organizations including You Can Play, the New York LGBTQ Center and Rainbow Railroad. The new foundation is intended to continue that philanthropic work.

Accent Aigu president Jayme Alter Wilson said the foundation’s name reflects what Irina represents within Reid’s story: the idea that people facing difficult circumstances deserve support and connection.

Paul McCartney has been listening to Céline Dion’s work on his upcoming animated film High in the Clouds, and the former Beatle is already seriously impressed.

As Dion continues her long-awaited return to the stage in Paris, McCartney took to Instagram this week to celebrate her comeback and reveal that he has heard some of what she has recorded for the animated musical.

“It’s been great to see the amazing reaction to Céline’s comeback in Paris. There’s so much love out there for her,” McCartney wrote.

He also spoke of her contribution to High in the Clouds, the animated adaptation of the children’s book McCartney co-wrote with Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh.

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“I’m so excited that she’s part of our High in the Clouds film. I’ve just been listening to some of her performances, and I’m blown away. Wow, what a talent!” he wrote. “We are very lucky to have her as part of the team. Can’t wait to share it with the world.”

McCartney also shared images with Dion that appear to have been taken during a recording session. Dion subsequently shared the images herself. Dion was announced as part of the film’s star-studded voice cast in 2025, alongside Himesh Patel, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr and McCartney himself. She voices Sugartail, while McCartney plays McKenzie.

The film follows Wirral, a teenage squirrel who sets out to restore music to a world where it has been banned by Gretsch, a tyrannical owl. McCartney wrote the film’s original songs, while Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino is handling the score.

The movie is scheduled for release in the summer of 2027.

A collection of memorabilia spanning the career of Paul Reubens is headed to auction via Julien’s Auction on Oct. 28. It will feature an array of iconic items from his Pee-wee Herman days, including the quintessential gray suit and custom red Schwinn bicycles used while playing the beloved character.

The auction includes more than 400 items from Reubens’ estate, including rare limited-edition dolls from Reubens’ JCPenney line, original production costumes and props, stop-motion puppets and claymation artwork, production scripts and storyboards, signed posters, and personal items.

Highlights include the slate gray glen plaid suit Reubens wore in 2016’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, which comes with the white shirt, red bowtie, pocket square, and white loafers that completes the outfit. It’s expected to go for $8,000-$10,000.

One of the bicycles available at the auction is a replica from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which is packaged with his 2011 Visionary Spike TV Scream Award. The full-scale replica of the red Schwinn DX he rode to accept the award is expected to fetch $5,000-$7,000.

Among the puppets available is a Pee-wee’s Playhouse dinosaur, which is an original wire-armature and foam puppet. It’s mounted on a custom wooden stand amd includes an extruder handle for stop-motion animation. It’s listed at $2,000-3,000.

Other eclectic lots under a grand are also up for grabs, including 12 prop food pieces from the Pee-wee Playhouse refrigerator. Among the props are claymation red pepper and bacon with armature arms, olive barbells, frozen food boxes, and desserts. It’s expected to nab $800-$1,000.

There’s also a collection of 13 scripts, one for each episode of Pee-wee’s Playhouse Season One, as well as a Pee-wee’s Big Adventure script — credited to Phil Hartman, Paul Reubens, and Michael Varhol — containing minor differences from the final film including a deleted magic shop scene. Each lot ranges from $500-$700.

On the Hollywood memorabilia side, there is as a Pee-wee Herman 1989 JCPenney 40-inch limited edition doll, with only 2,000 made, which is on offer for $300-$500. For the same price range, there’s a metal production parking sign that reads “Pee Wee’s / PLAYHOUSE / P. REUBENS.”

The live auction will take place on Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PT on the Julien’s Auctions website and at The Groundlings Theatre, where Reubens continued to develop his craft and where he first showcased his Pee-wee Herman character with the renowned Groundlings improvisational group. To celebrate the late actor, who died in 2023 at age 70, Julien’s and the Groundlings will present an exclusive exhibition featuring highlights from Reubens’ archive from Oct. 14 through Oct. 28. On Oct. 14, The Groundlings will screen several episodes from his career-defining Pee-wee’s Playhouse series, with a panel discussion to follow. Tickets for the kick-off screening celebration go on sale Oct. 2 via The Groundlings website.