You can’t say higher interest rates and tough new mortgage rules aren’t having an effect on Canadian consumers.

In a sign that the great Canadian consumer debt frenzy is finally calming down, new Bank of Canada data shows household debt grew by 3.5 per cent over the past year.

While that may seem like a solid pace of growth, it is in fact the slowest debt growth Canadian consumers have seen in 35 years, according to Bank of Montreal chief economist Doug Porter.

Watch: Why strong economies spell bad news for Canadian mortgage borrowers (story continues below)

“The pronounced slowdown in Canadian household debt growth continues unabated, largely due to the cooler housing market (at least in Toronto and Vancouver),” Porter wrote in a client note this week.

The last time Canadians slowed down their borrowing this much, back in 1983, consumers were under pressure from interest rates like they are today. But rates were at much higher levels then, with the Bank of Canada’s key lending rate peaking at around 21 per cent in the early 1980s, as the bank fought against persistent inflation in the economy.

Today’s interest rates are much lower, but Canadians are carrying much more debt — $1.68 of it for every dollar of disposable income, making Canadians the most indebted people among G7 countries.

New mortgage rules, which shaved an estimated 21 per cent off the maximum mortgage borrowers can take, have also taken a bite out of the debt frenzy.

Mortgage growth in Canada slowed to a 3.2-per-cent pace in October, the weakest in 17 years, according to an analysis of Bank of Canada numbers at Better Dwelling.

The slowdown in credit suggests there won’t be much upward pressure on Canadian house prices going forward, and it also suggests policymakers’ moves to calm years of runaway housing market growth in some markets have had an effect.

The Bank of Canada noted last month that the new mortgage rules enacted at the start of 2018 have made borrowing in Canada less risky.

The share of new mortgages going to “deeply indebted borrowers” fell to 6 per cent in the second quarter of this year, from 20 per cent in late 2016, the BoC found. These are borrowers who have more than 4.5 times their income in debt.

They are considered to be the most at risk in case of a negative shock such as a loss of income or rising interest rates.

“It took a long time for that vulnerability to accumulate and it’s going to take some time for it to diminish,” bank deputy governor Carolyn Wilkins told reporters last month.

“What we were hoping to see would be a continuing improvement in the quality of the loans because what that does is, over time, put the economy on a more-solid footing to withstand whatever adverse developments that might occur.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two-time defending national champion Tufts University stays put as the unanimous choice atop the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 softball rankings.

 

They have received all eight first-place votes in the first three polls this season and last six polls overall going back to last April. Tufts has been ranked No. 1 in seven of the last 10 polls and 12 of the last 16.

The Jumbos went 5-1 in the NCAA Championship at Texas-Tyler’s Suddenlink Field last season as part of a 13-1 postseason run en route to a 47-4 mark and their second straight Division III title. Tufts is set to open its season with a trio of games on March 14 at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.

Division III runner-up Salisbury (44-5 last season) and fifth-place finisher East Texas Baptist (3-0 this season) continue to be locked securely in the No. 2 and 3 spots. Salisbury spent three weeks at No. 1 last season and has been the clear second choice in the poll since dealing Tufts its first postseason loss since 2012 in the first game of the best-of-3 NCAA Championship Series last May.

The Sea Gulls’ lone losses in Tyler came in the final two games to Tufts, including a 6-0 loss in 14 innings in the second game of the Championship Series that was scoreless for the first 13. Salisbury was set to open its season later this week with its own Sea Gull Classic, but has already been forced to cancel that tournament.

The Sea Gulls and No. 7 Texas-Tyler (10-0) are the only teams other then Tufts to be ranked No. 1 in the past 19 rankings, going back to April 24, 2013, when No. 15 Montclair State held the top spot.

East Texas Baptist (3-0) is the only team in the top three that has played this season, though the Tigers have had five straight games since then cancelled due to weather.

Rounding out the top five are Wisconsin-Whitewater and Christopher Newport. The No. 4 Warhawks are slated to open their season with a pair of games on March 20 in Florida, while fifth-ranked Christopher Newport (0-1) finally got its year going — after eight failed attempts due to weather — with a 12-8 loss on Monday at Averett.

Also in the unchanged first eight are unbeaten No. 6 Trine (5-0) and No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan, which is set to open with two games on March 7 in Orlando, Fla. Rochester and Virginia Wesleyan, who also have yet to play, each jumped up one spot to round out the top 10.

The biggest gainers this week are Kean and DePauw, who picked up two spots apiece, to No. 13 and 23, respectively. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (6-2), meanwhile, dropped five places to 14th. Simpson (6-0) moved up to No. 25, while Coe (2-0) joins the receiving votes category and Western Connecticut State dropped out.

The NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll is selected by eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions. Current records are listed, with first-place votes in parentheses.

For the complete poll, click here

Netflix announced that Neon Genesis Evangelion will be coming to the streaming service globally in spring 2019 along with four other anime.

The new acquisitions were revealed during the Anime Lineup Presentation at Akiba Theatre in Tokyo. Neon Genesis Evangelion will be joined by the Evangelion movies Evangelion: Death True² and The End of Evangelion.

Neon Genesis Evangelion originally aired in Japan in October of 1995 with a 26-episode run. The series takes place in A.D. 2015 and sees Tokyo-3 under attack by creatures known as the Angels. Shinji Ikari, who is chosen to pilot the Humanoid Decisive Weapon Evangelion, has the fate of humanity on his shoulders.

While Neon Genesis Evangelion ended over 20 years ago, three films have been released and one more is still on its way with a confirmed Japanese release in 2020.

Netflix also announced a few other anime that will be arriving in 2019, including the previously announced Ultraman (April 1, 2019), Rilakkuma and Kaoru (April 19, 2019),  7Seeds (April 2019), and Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac (Summer 2019).

These announcements join Netflix’s commitment to anime as it recently announced that five anime series – including two that are based on Pacific Rim and Altered Carbon – are currently in development.

While there is some time until Neon Genesis Evangelion arrives, we have put together a list of the 10 best anime series on Netflix right now and seven essential anime that every fan should watch to help you as you wait for Spring 2019.

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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can’t wait to watch this when it comes on Netflix as he’s heard incredible things about it. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

When it comes to home bartending, bringing your cocktail game from good to great is in the little details. While you can buy better spirits and have the fancy bartender tools, if you’re not focused on the other aspects like syrups, garnishes and bitters, you’re missing out on the key elements of a great cocktail.

While it may seem daunting to think about starting from scratch with speciality ingredients, it’s not as hard as it seems, and will make your cocktails truly your own creation at the end of the day.

Here are a few options that will help you avoid the generic store bought products.

Bourbon Soaked Cherries

Forget maraschino cherries, they are awful anyway. These homemade bourbon soaked cherries work amazingly in Manhattan’s and Old Fashioned’s, and are also great gifts.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bourbon
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 1-inch strip orange peel
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 pound cherries, pitted

Method: Combine the bourbon, sugar, orange juice and orange peel in a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly until the sugar dissolves, about five minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Combine the bourbon mixture and the cherries in a 15-ounce sterilized container and seal. Allow the contents to cool to room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator. Chill for at least three days before using. The cherries will keep for up to two months.

Hibiscus Simple Syrup

Add the refreshing quality of hibiscus to simple syrups to help elevate gin and vodka based cocktails to a new level. Omit the hibiscus for a straight simple syrup recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 0.5 cup dried hibiscus petals

Method: Combine water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until sugars are dissolved.Take off heat and add hibiscus petals, let soak for a maximum of 15 minutes. Strain out petals and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Thai Chili Tincture

Think of this like an essential oil for your cocktail. This Thai chili tincture will add a spicy kick to any cocktail that suits a more robust profile with just a few simple drops.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz dried Thai chili
• 8 oz vodka

Method: Infuse chilies into vodka for three days, shaking occasionally. Strain into a dropper.

Aromatic Bitters

Bitters are an essential part to many great cocktails, and as with most recipes, there are a ton of variations you can play with once you get the hang of creating your own. Here’s a good place to start.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium lemon
• 1 bottle grain alcohol
• 40 drops gentian extract
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 piece fresh ginger, cut in half
• 4 whole allspice berries
• 4 whole cloves

Method: Using a vegetable peeler, remove lemon zest in strips, leaving the whites behind. Combine lemon zest and all remaining ingredients in a quart jar with a tight lid. Close and store at room temperature. Let steep 14 days, shaking the jar every other day. Using a coffee filter, strain alcohol from spices and store in a jar in a dark, cool place.

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Epic Games has pushed back Fortnite’s account merge feature from November 2018 to “early next year.”

Back in September, after Sony announced that the PS4 will now support cross-platform play for Fortnite, Epic followed up with news of an account merging solution for players who had created accounts on different platforms. Scheduled for a November roll-out, the studio has now stated that the feature will be pushed back to 2019 due to technical issues.

“Due to some ongoing technical concerns, we will be delaying the Account Merge feature until early next year. We want to make sure that this process is thoroughly tested and working properly before releasing it to those of you currently looking to transfer purchases from other accounts to your primary account.”

The account merging system will allow players to “combine multiple console-linked accounts to transfer Battle Royale cosmetic item purchases, lifetime wins, V-Bucks, and Save the World campaign access.”

Epic promises to update players closer to the release date of the feature, saying it will include a web page to guide players through the process.

In other Fortnite news, as Season 6 draws to an end and speculation over what’s in store for Season 7 is rife, a leak has pointed to the destruction of Tilted Towers.

Also, If you play on mobile and have picked up the latest iPhone, you can now play Fortnite in 60fps.

Fortnite’s player count recently surpassed 200 million, making it one of the most-played video games ever. It’s not all a bed of roses though, with the game taking a portion of the blame for a recent spate of video game addiction in children.

Shabana is a freelance writer who enjoys JRPGs, wine, and not finishing games. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

TORONTO — Netflix is setting up a dedicated production hub in Toronto, which film and TV creators hope will provide new opportunities for local talent.

The California-based streaming giant announced Tuesday it is expanding its presence in Canada by leasing two studio spaces along the downtown industrial waterfront area.

At Cinespace Studios, Netflix is leasing four new sound stages — along with spaces for office and support work — totalling approximately 164,000 sq. feet. At Pinewood Toronto Studios, Netflix is also leasing four sound stages and adjacent office space totalling 84,580 sq. feet.

Netflix said the commitment will provide jobs for up to 1,850 Canadians per year, and that the leases are “multi-year” but didn’t specify for exactly how long.

‘Great news’ for local industry

“This is great news for the Toronto and the Ontario community, because it’s an endorsement of the high quality of the work that comes out of our industry,” said Jim Mirkopoulos, vice-president of Cinespace.

“Netflix has made a commitment to the film and television industry here that they’re going to continue to do stuff and by making this announcement, they’re standing by that,” added Nanci MacLean, president of Pinewood Toronto Studios.

Cinespace said its sound stages leased by Netflix are under construction and set to be operational this summer.

Pinewood said Netflix will move a production onto one of its sound stages in the next couple of weeks. The four sound stages being leased are separate from Pinewood Toronto Studios’ previously announced planned expansion.

Projects already set to be made at the hub include the horror anthology series “Guillermo del Toro Presents Ten After Midnight” and the film “Let It Snow.”

Netflix has production facilities in Los Angeles and recently announced new hubs for Madrid and Albuquerque, N.M.

It also leases British Columbia’s Martini Film Studios and production sites across Canada on a case-by-case basis.

Its co-productions with Canadian partners have included “Anne with an E” and “Alias Grace” with CBC, “Travelers” with Showcase, and “Frontier” with Discovery Canada.

Toronto’s mayor mentioned the possibility in January

Speculation of a Toronto hub started swirling last month when Mayor John Tory, who has been making annual trips to Los Angeles to lure film and TV projects to the city, told The Canadian Press he had “a very high level of confidence” that Netflix would open one up.

Tory’s words drew positive reaction from local screen talent, who said they hoped it would foster Canadian projects.

“In television right now, they’re always going to be my first stop, frankly,” said Toronto producer J. Miles Dale, who is developing “Ten After Midnight” with del Toro, with whom he won an Oscar last year for “The Shape of Water.” Dale is also developing his own Netflix series, “44 Chapters About Men,” which he hopes will be at the hub.

“You can say whatever you want, you can show whatever you want, you can show real adult situations without the kind of censorship that comes in.”

Netflix is giving a similar freedom to filmmakers, said Dean DeBlois, the Aylmer, Que.-raised director of “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” out Friday.

“It’s the wild west of filmmaking within their particular format and I have several friends who have gone to Netflix with original projects and they’re just having the best time of their careers,” said DeBlois.

“They’re willing to take a chance on a completely original project and not just resurrect something that’s been done before.”

The move may make production easier for Canadian creators

Streaming services are also one-stop shops for Canadian creators who usually have to go through multiple avenues to find producers, sellers, distributors and financing, said Oscar-nominated Toronto director Hubert Davis.

“For filmmakers, that might be the best option for your project to get it going, as opposed to going to all of these different sources to get it made,” he said.

Vancouver-based producer and filmmaker David Paperny is looking forward to the possibility of conducting business within Canada.

“They could have their ear closer to the ground of the vast Canadian talent source out here,” said Paperny.

“So it will be easier to pitch them, it will be easier for them to work in collaboration with us on our productions.”

Netflix also faces criticism for not paying Canadian taxes

But some worry the hub will take up precious studio space that producers are clamouring for in Toronto.

Netflix has also faced heavy criticism from Canadian broadcasters and other industry players for not being on a level playing field when it comes to regulation in Canada.

Because it’s a foreign digital company, Netflix isn’t required to collect or remit federal or provincial sales tax.

So far Netflix also hasn’t fallen under federal regulations that require the country’s broadcasting companies to pay into the Canada Media Fund for the creation of homegrown programming.

Netflix has argued it shouldn’t be forced to pay into such funds, pointing to the money it’s already putting into the system by creating shows here.

In Sept. 2017, the company pledged to spend $500 million over five years to fund original content made in Canada, a number it recently said it will exceed.

“I’m all for (a hub), bring it on. I just care about Canada’s voice and Canadian content,” said Virginia Thompson, co-executive producer of “Corner Gas” and co-founder of Verite Films.

“If there are more jobs for people in the city, great. And if it increases the chance of people here making (stuff), then terrific,” added Toronto-based actor/filmmaker Jay Baruchel, star of “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.”

“When a big corporation comes to town, it could be awesome, but it’s not guaranteed to be so…. Whatever puts resources in the hands of talented Canadian artists, I’m all for it.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wayne State’s (Mich.) Lyndsay Butler and Indianapolis’ Morgan Foley were selected Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played April 13-19 announced the Association on Wednesday afternoon.

Butler had a big week at the dish and in the circle helping Wayne State post an undefeated 6-0 week. The Cambridge, Ontario, Canada native batted .478 (11-for-23) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. She recorded a 3-0 record with a 0.82 ERA, two shutouts, 27 strikeouts and zero walks in 19 innings, while holding her opposition to a .172 batting average.

“This is such an honor. I’ve worked very hard all year so it is an amazing feeling winning this award,” said Lyndsay Butler.

Butler recorded a hit and RBI in each game and scored in five of six games. She went 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored in game one versus Lake Superior State and closed out the week at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored against Northwood. In the circle, Butler, the GLIAC Pitcher of the Week, struck out a week-best 14 batters in her first start of the week at Ferris State. The right-handed hurler put forth a pair of five-inning, one and three-hit shutouts against Lake Superior State (5K) and Northwood (8K), respectively.

Foley racked up three wins and a save in four appearances, including a complete game victory over No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis. She compiled a 0.98 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 21.1 innings, while opponents mustered just seven hits in 71 at bats for paltry .099 batting average. Against the Tritons, Foley outdueled UMSL’s Hannah Perryman in a 3-2 win. She struck out a week-best 16 batters, including the first eight against one of Division II’s most powerful offensives.

“I am very appreciative to receive this honor,” said Foley. “To me, this isn’t just an individual recognition but a representation of our whole team.  We’ve all worked really hard all year and without the support of my teammates on the field, I wouldn’t have the confidence I have in the circle.  I know if a ball I pitch is put in play, they’ll make the out behind me.  I also know our hitters will get the job done which allows me to relax and takes a lot of pressure off me.  Each player on our team contributes in a different way and their support is what drives me to be the best I can be.”

Earlier in the week, Foley spun a 15-K two-hitter at Wheeling Jesuit in which she surrendered a run and walked three. In a GLVC doubleheader versus Maryville, she held the Saints to two hits and struck out six with no free passes in six innings of work. The Louisville, Ky. native closed out the twinbill against Maryville with a no-hit 1.1 inning save (2K, 0BB).

“I couldn’t be happier for Morgan,” head coach Melissa Frost said. “She has worked hard all year to prepare herself for this season. She is the type of young lady that is never satisfied and always continues to find ways to elevate her game. Her work ethic and dedication to our program speaks for itself. This is a great honor for Morgan and our program.”​

Player of the Week
April 22 – Lyndsay Butler (Wayne State)
April 15 – Jenelle Trautmann (Augustana)
April 8 – Jackie Couillard (Mercy)
April 1 – Colleen Aubrey (Hawai’i Hilo)
March 25 – Tiffany Gillaspy (Missouri Western)
March 18 – Tiffany Hollingsworth (Humboldt State)
March 11 – Stephanie Mark (Northwest Missouri State)
March 4 – Jayne MacDonald (Cal State East Bay)
Feb. 25 – Ashley Walker (Winona State)
Feb. 18 – Nicole Nobbe (Cal State San Bernardino)

Pitcher of the Week
April 22 – Morgan Foley (Indianapolis)
April 15 – Hannah Perryman (Missouri-St. Louis)
– Kimmy Reynolds (Tiffin)
April 8 – Julia Morrow (Tampa)
April 1 – Caitlyn Calhoun (Valdosta State)
March 25 – Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone (St. Mary’s)
March 18 – Hannah Perryman (Missouri-St. Louis)
March 11 – Caitlyn Calhoun (Valdosta State)
March 4 – Courtney Poole (North Georgia)
Feb. 25 – Shea Coats (Oklahoma Christian)
Feb. 18 – Caitlyn Calhoun (Valdosta State)

Selected Top Performances
Southern Indiana’s MacKenzi Dorsam batted .750 (9-for-12) with two doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and nine runs scored to garner GLVC Player of the Week recognition… Tori Bates of Armstrong State went 2-0 with a five-hit shutout and a complete-game two-hitter against No. 7 North Georgia to earn Peach Belt Pitcher of the Week honors… Saginaw Valley’s Amanda Best was selected GLIAC Player of the Week after batting .455 (10-for-22) with two doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI and six runs scored… St. Edward’s Sarah Debrow tossed a no-hitter and totaled 10 hitless innings with 10 strikeouts in two appearances against Newman to take home Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Week… Cameron’s Lauren Renneker hit .667 with three home runs, eight RBI, 10 runs scored, a .727 OBP and 1.267 slugging percentage to earn Lone Star Conference Player of the Week… Heartland Player of the Week, St. Edward’s Morgan Dufour was 5-for-8 with a double, three home runs and seven RBI in the a twinbill sweep of Newman…CCAA Player of the Week, Cal State Monterey Bay’s Bianca Noriega hit .636, slugged 1.182 with two home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored… PSAC West Pitcher of the Week, Christine Henderson of Seton Hill went 4-0 with three complete game victories and 32 strikeouts in 23 innings…  Texas Woman’s Tori Bice garnered Lone Star Pitcher of the Week recognition after boasting a 4-0 record with a 0.00 ERA, three complete games and two shutouts… Wayne State’s (Neb.) Kaiti Williams hit .500 (14-for-28) with three home runs, eight RBI and five-multi-hit contests to earn Northern Sun Player of the Week accolades… SAC Pitcher of the Week, Anderson’s Lauren Rudesheim tossed a pair of five-inning no-hitters, struck out 13 and posted a 0.00 ERA… UMSL’s Hannah Perryman twirled her DII-record fourth regular season and fifth career perfect game and finished the week 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA, one save, four hits, 33 strikeouts, one walk and held her opponents to a .078 batting average… Bloomsburg’s Sarah Bortner was tabbed PSAC East Pitcher of the Week after a 3-0 mark with a 0.73 ERA, 16 strikeouts and just two walk in 28.2 innings… CCAA Pitcher of the Week, Cori Reinhardt of Cal State Monterey Bay went 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA and also scored four runs, walked four times, recorded a double and RBI… Stacey Herzog of Slippery Rock was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week after batting .400 (6-for-15) with six-extra base hits (3 home runs, 3 doubles), 11 RBI and seven runs scored… CIAA Pitcher of the Week, Meranda Zanni of St. Augustine twirled three shutouts to post a 3-0 record with 16 strikeouts and three walks in 21 innings… Salem International’s Katie Chryssofos was named G-MAC Player of the Week after batting .400 with four home runs, 13 RBI and seven runs scored… Mountain East Pitcher of the Week, Courtney Fain of Charleston was 3-0 with a pair of shutouts, 24 strikeouts in 21 innings of work… Assumption’s Ashley Abad batted .500 (13-for-26) with three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases to garner Northeast-10 Player of the Week honors… New Haven’s Nicole King earned NE-10 Pitcher of the Week accolades after posting a 3-1 record with 39 strikeouts in 30 inning of work… PacWest Player of the Week, BYU-Hawaii’s Lizabelle Talataina hit .538 (14-for-26) with six extra-base hits, 12 RBI and eight runs scored… PSAC East Athlete of the Week, Bloomsburg’s Emily Mayhew batted .469 with four homers, 11 RBI and a .969 slugging percentage.

CALGARY — It wasn’t the concert trumpet solo that Jens Lindemann was scheduled to play, but an impromptu performance on the snow-choked Trans-Canada Highway was heartily applauded by an audience of stranded motorists.

Lindemann played at a private event in Banff on Monday night and was to perform in Vancouver the following evening. But a massive snowstorm swept through southern Alberta, dumping 40 centimetres within a day.

The musician left Banff at around 11 a.m. and just east of Canmore, traffic came to a standstill.

“It just didn’t move. More and more cars ended up showing up behind us and we ended up being literally stuck there for 10 and a half hours. We had not moved an inch,” he said Wednesday.

At one point Lindemann’s car got stuck in the snow and some other motorists helped him get it out.

After hours in traffic gridlock he found a way to show his gratitude.

“I spontaneously grabbed my trumpet and started playing some Dixieland tunes and they loved it,” he said. “It became kind of a mini jam session out there.”

Later, he played O Canada.

“The semi trucks were honking their horns and people were cheering and leaning out the window. It was a moment to just sort of be a proud Canadian.”

But around 7 p.m. the mood shifted. It was getting dark and cold. People were getting anxious.

“The fun of hanging out in the afternoon and playing trumpet at the side of the road had gone away. And now people were in danger of running out of gas,” he said.

“There had to be 1,000 cars that were backed up. That’s not an underestimation.”

At around 10:30 p.m., Lindemann managed to get into the westbound lane and made his way back to Banff and checked into a hotel. He missed that night’s concert in Vancouver.

He got three hours of sleep, and then hit the road early the next morning, inching through still-clogged roads, just in time to barely make an early-morning Vancouver flight.

Lindemann has played major concert venues around the world, performed for the Queen and received Grammy and Juno nominations. He grew up in Edmonton, but has lived in Los Angeles for the past 18 years.

He said his Alberta upbringing came in handy.

“I understand you never hit the mountains without a full tank of gas, because if something happens and you’re stopped, at least you can keep your car running. And if your car’s running, you’ll have heat.”

He said the optimistic can-do western Canadian spirit was on full display.

“I was really, really proud to be an Albertan yesterday, I must say.”

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