VANCOUVER, BC (April 7, 2025) — Kinton Ramen is celebrating two big milestones by offering guests $9.99 Signature Ramen Bowls at its Robson Street location in downtown Vancouver (420 Robson St.) on April 11th and 50% off Signature Ramen Bowls at its new Coquitlam outpost (375-3025 Lougheed Hwy.) on April 18th.

On both days, guests can enjoy feature pricing on Kinton’s signature Pork, Chicken, Beef or Veggie Ramen in original, shoyu, spicy garlic, miso or spicy jalapeño varieties during dine-in service only from 11 a.m. to close. The limited-time offers celebrate the second anniversary of Kinton’s Robson Street location as well as the grand opening of its first Coquitlam location in Sunwood Square.

The fast-expanding family of restaurants recently added a 1,652-sq.-ft. location on Vancouver Island in Victoria University Heights at 104-1520 McKenzie Ave. and will soon open its 1,300-sq.-ft. spot in Sunwood Square before cutting the ribbon on two new restaurants in the coming months in Richmond’s YVR Outlet at 7899 Templeton Station Rd. and another in Downtown Vancouver at Waterfront Station at 200 Burrard St.

Since 2019, Kinton Ramen has grown to include more than 30 locations across Canada in major hubs like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with other restaurants in BC at Marine Gateway (434 SW Marine Dr.), Point Grey at UBC (6111 University Blvd.), North Vancouver (#105 - 1325 Lonsdale Avenue), Surrey (#103 - 13639 George Junction), Kelowna (570 Bernard Ave.), Burnaby (120-4112 Lougheed Hwy) and Broadway (1661 E Broadway) and Victoria (813 Wharf St.).

For more information on Kinton Ramen or to stay up to date on the latest news, visit kintonramen.com

NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 7, 2026)— Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is proud to announce the Canada Regional Top 10 Honorees for the 20th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its inception in 2007, the Spirited Awards has become one of the world’s highest-regarded honors in the drinks industry, celebrating outstanding individuals, establishments, products, media, and leaders who continue to inspire the global cocktail community.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation will celebrate the Spirited Awards on July 23rd during the Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) conference, taking place in New Orleans from July 19-24, 2026. Food & Wine is the Spirited Awards Official Media Partner.

“The Spirited Awards are a time to celebrate the people and places that make our hospitality industry shine and thrive. Each honoree embodies the passion, ingenuity, and commitment that define our vibrant global bar community,” said Kaitlyn Stewart, Spirited Awards Canada Co-Chair.

Divided into geographical regions - Asia Pacific (APAC), Canada, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C), Middle East & Africa (MEA), U.S. Central, U.S. East, and U.S. West - the Regional Top 10 Honorees represent the best in the industry, leaving a lasting impact on their local cocktail communities and beyond. To toast the 2026 Honorees, the Foundation is proud to recognize this inspiring group and announce the Spirited Awards Regional Top 10 Honorees.

2026 Spirited Awards® Canada Regional Top 10 Honorees (in alphabetical order):

Canada Establishments:

Best International Bar Team* presented by William Grant & Sons

Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada

Bar Pompette — Toronto, ON, Canada

Belle Isle — Toronto, ON, Canada

Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Civil Liberties — Toronto, ON, Canada

Civil Works — Toronto, ON, Canada

Humboldt Bar at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites — Victoria, BC, Canada

Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York — Toronto, ON, Canada

The Cloakroom Bar — Montreal, QC, Canada

The Coldroom — Montreal, QC, Canada

The Keefer Bar — Vancouver, BC, Canada

*11 Honorees due to a tie

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Bar Pompette — Toronto, ON, Canada

Citrus & Cane — Victoria, BC, Canada

Civil Liberties — Toronto, ON, Canada

Civil Works — Toronto, ON, Canada

Cry Baby Gallery — Toronto, ON, Canada

Dear Friend — Dartmouth, NS, Canada

Hoof Cocktail Bar — Toronto, ON, Canada

Mother Cocktail Bar — Toronto, ON, Canada

The Cloakroom Bar — Montreal, QC, Canada

The Keefer Bar — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Best International Hotel Bar

Bar 1608 at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac — Quebec City, QC, Canada

Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel — Toronto, ON, Canada

Evangeline at the Ace Hotel — Toronto, ON, Canada

H Tasting Lounge at The Westin Bayshore — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Humboldt Bar at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites — Victoria, BC, Canada

Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York — Toronto, ON, Canada

Marcus Lounge and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Montreal — Montreal, QC, Canada

Prophecy Bar at Rosewood Hotel Georgia — Vancouver, BC, Canada

the bar at Alder at Ace Hotel Toronto — Toronto, ON, Canada

Best International Restaurant Bar

Bar Jjacques — Québec City, QC, Canada

Bar Raval — Toronto, ON, Canada

Chupito — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Highwayman Restaurant & Bar — Halifax, NS, Canada

Le Swan — Toronto, ON, Canada

Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Published on Main — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Quetzal — Toronto, ON, Canada

Simpl Things — Toronto, ON, Canada

Wind Cries Mary — Victoria, BC, Canada

Best New International Cocktail Bar

Bar Numero — Montreal, QC, Canada

Chez Celine — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Ellipsis — Vancouver, BC, Canada

June — Vancouver, BC, Canada

La Cantina Concha — Montreal, QC, Canada

Next of Kin — Edmonton, AB, Canada

Nomo Nomo — Vancouver, BC, Canada

Restaurant Limousine — Saint-Lambert, QC, Canada

The Shameful Tiki Room — Toronto, ON, Canada

Uh Bar — Toronto, ON, Canada

2026 Spirited Awards Committee

The Spirited Awards® Committee comprises revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who are entrusted with evaluating nominees based on structured criteria. The experienced and diverse committee of judges brings years of expertise and knowledge of industry developments locally, nationally, and internationally. The Spirited Awards® nominations are not based on popular vote, and all nominations are evaluated by their respective judging committees, ensuring each vote carries equal weight in the evaluation process.

Honorees were selected by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by the following Chair and Co-Chairs representing distinct regions:

International Chair & U.S. Chair:

Tiffanie Barriere

Ryan Chetiyawardana

Asia Pacific Co-Chairs:

Philip Bischoff

Alice Newport

Shelley Tai

Stephanie Wijono

Canada Co-Chairs:

Kaitlyn Stewart

Julia Wolkowski

Europe Co-Chairs:

Camille Vidal

Kaitlin Wilkes

Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs:

Roberto Berdecia

Claudia Cabrera

Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs:

Richie Barrow

Mallory Lee

Lara Rawa

U.S. Central Co-Chairs:

Amanda Carto

Erika Flowers

U.S. East Co-Chairs:

Vance Henderson

Jaymee Mandeville

U.S. West Co-Chairs:

Nick Amano Dolan

Mary Allison Wright

Writing & Media Co-Chairs:

Alia Akkam

Erick Castro

Books Chair:

Anna Sulan Masing

Timeless Co-Chairs:

François Monti

Rebecca Sturt

To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® page.

McHappy Day® proudly returns on  Wednesday, May 6. By simply enjoying your favourite menu items, all day, you’ll make a positive impact on families in your community.

For over 30 years, McDonald’s Canada and its local, independent franchisees have invited communities to come together in support of Canadian families. With the help of Canadians from coast to coast, our long-standing tradition has raised over $111.3M for Ronald McDonald House® and other local children’s charities across Canada—turning your favourite orders into meaningful impact.

The Heart of McHappy Day

Your participation on McHappy Day supports local children’s charities, including 37 Ronald McDonald House program locations across Canada. The funds enable essential support and resources for families with critically sick and injured children by providing accommodation, meals, and mental and health wellness programs so they can stay together and close to life-saving medical care.

Last year, Ronald McDonald House across Canada supported more than 32,000 families from 2,900 communities. Despite historic footprint expansion in 2025, Ronald McDonald House needs the continued support of Canadians now more than ever to help even more families. Your support on McHappy Day makes this possible.

How You Can Participate

It’s simple, convenient, and delicious.

On May 6

Order any menu item all day at your nearest McDonald's in-restaurant, through the Drive-Thru, or through the McDonald's app, or order McDelivery® via the McDonald’s app, DoorDash, Skip or Uber Eats.

Guests can get $0 delivery fee* when they order McDelivery® on the McDonald's app†, even on McHappy Day.

*11% service fee & $2 small order fee still apply.

$0 delivery fee** will also be offered on all McDelivery orders ordered through DoorDash, Skip and Uber Eats†† on McHappy Day.

**Service fee still applies.

Starting Today, April 7

For the entire month, Round Up your order to the nearest dollar at the Drive-Thru, Kiosk, or Front Counter, and donate the difference to Ronald McDonald House as part of McHappy Day® fundraising.

Purchase a pair of McHappy Day Socks for $6+tax†††, or Hearts for a donation of $2, $5, or $10ˆ, available in-restaurant, at the Drive-Thru, or through the McDonald’s app.

Look for additional merchandise to purchase at participating restaurants. ˆˆ

Turn an everyday visit into something meaningful and help families stay together when it matters most.

For more details on how you can strengthen your community, visit ronaldmcdonaldhouse.ca/mchappyday.

†At participating McDonald’s in Canada on McDelivery orders placed using the McDonald’s app. App download & registration reqd. 11% service fee & taxes still apply; $2 small order fee on orders under $12 (before taxes & fees).

††Service fee and taxes still apply. See the applicable app for details.

†††ˆˆNet proceeds will help support Ronald McDonald House ® programs and local children’s charities across Canada. For a limited time only. While supplies last. At participating McDonald’s restaurants in Canada.

ˆDonations will help support Ronald McDonald House ® programs and local children’s charities across Canada. For a limited time only. While supplies last. At participating McDonald’s restaurants in Canada.

TORONTO, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ - Beer Canada is raising concerns following the federal government's decision to proceed with another tax increase on beer, at a time when affordability remains a top concern for Canadians.

This latest increase adds further strain on Canada's domestic brewing industry and its unionized workforce, who have joined a growing coalition of voices calling on the government to repeal the escalator policy and return tax decisions to Parliament.

Canadian consumers already pay some of the highest beer taxes in the world. With today's increase, the federal excise component will now be more than 20% higher than it was in 2017, when the current system of automatic annual increases was introduced.

Today, the federal government announced a cap of 2% on this year's increase, which is irrelevant, as it simply mirrors the rate adjustment already scheduled. In reality, it will result in an estimated $14 million in additional taxes on beer this year alone.

This policy of unreviewed and automated tax increases ignores core challenges facing the industry, including:

Rising input costs, particularly aluminum used in beer packaging

Weak and declining sales volumes across the category

Declining beer sales volumes in restaurants and pubs

"This policy choice is making life less affordable for Canadians and placing additional strain on an industry that supports jobs in nearly every federal riding," said Richard Alexander, President of Beer Canada. "From barley farmers to brewers, to pubs and restaurants in our communities, this sector is deeply rooted in the Canadian economy."

"While targeted support for small brewers is welcome, the reality is that taxes are increasing on more than 95% of beer sold in Canada," added Alexander. "At a time of declining sales and rising costs, allowing another increase to proceed is the wrong decision at the wrong time."

Beer Canada continues to call on the federal government to cancel future automatic increases, repeal the escalator policy, and restore parliamentary oversight of tax decisions, ensuring they are subject to proper scrutiny and reflect the impacts on Canadian jobs, investment, and affordability.