BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Holiday gift giving can feel joyful… until you get to the part where you’re not entirely sure what’s customary. Teachers are almost always on the Nice List, but how much should you actually spend? And what if your budget feels tight this year? According to etiquette expert Myka Meier,…
Ottawa-based e-commerce giant Shopify has set a new Black Friday, Cyber Monday (BFCM) record once again despite a partial service outage yesterday. Merchants on Shopify’s platform generated $14.6 billion USD in total sales this past BFCM weekend—a 27 percent jump (24 percent on a constant currency basis) compared to 2024. More than 81 million customers…
Montreal-based biotech Morphocell Technologies, which works to regenerate tissues and organs for patients with liver failure, has rounded out its Series A at $50 million USD ($70 million CAD) thanks to new commitments from Investissement Québec and Italy’s CDP Venture Capital. The funding will help Morphocell expand its manufacturing capacity, lay the foundation for future…
The government might be calling on citizens to “buy Canadian” in light of the ongoing trade war with the United States, but recognizing distinctly Canadian consumer tech isn’t always easy. Many companies only have a basic presence in Canada, and even more (including those in this article) often must offshore manufacturing. The simple reality is…
Employment Hero came to Canada seeking its next big opportunity. Already established in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia, the Australian HR software firm found its way into Canada by acquiring the country’s only real “incumbent” competitor, Toronto-based Humi, at the beginning of 2025. “Now our focus is just on Canada, Canadians, and…
How To Be A Friend (In An Unfriendly World) by Barnet Bain At The Optimist Daily, we believe that real, tangible change often begins with the simplest acts of humanity: listening deeply, showing up for one another, and choosing connection in a world that feels increasingly divided. That is why we are delighted to share…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research suggests that a dark bedroom isn’t just nice for sleep. Getting your shut-eye in a pitch black room may actually be vital for long‑term heart health. A new study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 found that exposure to ambient light…
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a powerful and symbolic move, Italy’s parliament passed a historic law that formally recognizes femicide as a distinct criminal offense. The law, approved on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, imposes life sentences for those who murder women because of their gender. The legislation…
Canadian aerospace startup NordSpace’s first satellite launch into space will hitch a ride on a rocket from Elon Musk’s SpaceX in 2026. The Terra Nova satellite mission, announced today, is part of NordSpace’s new Space Systems Lab, which the company says reflects its long-term goal of supplying technology for space missions. The Markham, Ont.-based aerospace…
Canada will soon be building more semiconductors, thanks to two separate investments in American chipmakers in Québec and Ontario. The first investment, from the federal and Québec governments, will provide IBM and an associated research and development centre with up to a combined $405 million in funding to support a $1-billion, five-year development of IBM’s…
