Year in review: A look at events in August 2025
By Canadian Press on December 15, 2025.
A look at news events in August 2025:
1 – U.S President Donald Trump’s 35-per-cent tariffs came into effect at 12:01 a.m., imposed after Trump accused Canada of failing to co-operate in curbing fentanyl imports.
2 – Canadian Victoria Mboko’s stellar run at the National Bank Open was extended for another round. The Torontonian rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over world Number 2 Coco Gauff of the United States, winning the women’s singles match in just 62 minutes. Mboko advanced to the quarterfinals in Montreal. The 18-year-old entered the tournament as a wild card and is the last Canadian standing in the singles draw.
3 – Actress Loni Anderson died. Anderson was best known for playing a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist — Jennifer — on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Her longtime publicist says she died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness just days before her 80th birthday. “WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978 through 1982 and was set in a lagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music.
4 – The Canadian Armed Forces airdropped 10,000 kilograms of aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said a Canadian aircraft flew over the Gaza Strip to conduct the aid drop. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is intensifying its efforts with international partners to develop a peace plan and ensure aid reaches Palestinians. Global Affairs Canada is calling on Israel to end its ongoing aid restrictions, calling it a violation of international law.
4 – The Supreme Court of Brazil ordered former president Jair Bolsonaro be placed under house arrest. The court said Bolsonaro violated the precautionary measures imposed on him by posting content on his son’s social media account. He’s currently on trial for allegedly leading a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election in Brazil.
5 – The federal government was preparing financial supports for the forestry sector to protect it against increasing U-S tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. Prime Minister Mark Carney’ promised an aid package that includes $700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million to help companies diversify. The U.S. Commerce Department recently announced it intends to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber from seven to just over 20 per cent. Carney also said the government will introduce a training program for workers which will include some $50 million for the forestry sector.
5 – Alex Ovechkin partnered with a Russian technology company to make a movie about his record-breaking career. Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record this past spring, and has scored 897 goals going into the final season of his contract with the Capitals. He’s played his entire career with Washington and has been the face of the franchise. The deal will likely see Ovechkin take part in commercials and serve as an ambassador for the tech company backing the film.
6 – The United States said it is auctioning off a seized Russian luxury superyacht that features eight state rooms, a helipad, swimming pool and an elevator. The sale of the $325-million craft was the first since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. U.S. officials claimed a sanctioned Russian economist is the yacht’s true owner, hidden through a trail of trusts and shell corporations. But his representative warned he’s appealing a forfeiture ruling and any potential buyers could face years of expensive court battles.
7 – Newfoundland’s wildfires forced another 900 people to leave their homes. Premier John Hogan announced two more communities were being evacuated as hot temperatures fuel multiple out-of-control blazes.
8 – Four unions at McGill University said the school is attacking free speech by threatening to suspend funding for a student organization because of its support for a pro-Palestinian group. McGill sent a notice of default earlier this year to a social-justice student group, demanding it stop supporting Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance. The decision comes following a three-day student strike over McGill’s investments in companies linked to military action in Gaza.
9 – The Maritime provinces and the federal government said they will spend $9 million to help restore air travel between Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Under the three-year pilot program with PAL Airlines, daily flights will be offered between Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Moncton and Fredericton. Passengers are expected to fly with the service later this year, although exact dates aren’t yet known. The announcement comes after the Council of Atlantic Premiers formed a working group in February 2023 on regional air travel that included government and airport authority representatives.
10 – The approval rating of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government dipped slightly to 50 per cent, the lowest since March. According to an Abacus Data poll, about 48 per cent of Canadians still viewed Carney favourably, while 19 per cent disapproved of the prime minister. The dip may be linked to frustrations over slow progress on key domestic issues and ongoing international negotiations. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a near-even approval rating ahead of Alberta’s byelection.
11 – Air Canada flight attendants picketed at major airports in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal. Their union said it was a National Day of Action, as it looked to raise awareness about what it calls poverty wages and unpaid labour when working on a plane when it’s not in the air. The two sides have been in contract talks since the beginning of the year. Workers recently voted in favour of a strike mandate, which means Air Canada flight attendants could possibly walk off the job as soon as Saturday with at least 72 hours’ notice provided.
11 – Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone call as world leaders prepared for a Ukraine war summit involving only the U.S. and Russia. Carney’s office confirmed the two leaders underscored that decisions on the future of Ukraine must be made by Ukrainians, adding diplomatic engagement must be reinforced by continued pressure on Russia to end its aggression. Zelensky later made a social media post that said he and Carney agreed that Russia is not seriously considering an end to the full-scale war it launched in Ukraine in 2022.
12 – The Canadian Armed Forces said it would send more help to fight wildfires in Newfoundland and Labrador. Premier John Hogan said the number of firefighters from the military will double to 80. Two water bombers from Ontario were also going to help put out the flames of some eight active wildfires in the Atlantic province. Meanwhile, the BC Wildfire Service said a fire on Vancouver Island has forced a campground near Port Alberni to be evacuated. The blaze was more than six square kilometres in size and is burning out-of-control.
12 – A ship ran aground in the St. Lawrence River. The Canadian Coast Guard said the 180-metre bulk carrier ran aground near Montreal just before 6 a.m. after a complete loss of engines. It said the ship is carrying sugar and authorities were working with its owner to come up with a refloating plan. No injuries were reported and other vessels were able to navigate around the ship that is partially in the channel.
13 – Officials said a small wildfire burning out of control on the western outskirts of Halifax was caused by human activity. Nova Scotia’s manager of forest protection Scott Tingley told reporters that an open fire pit was found at the scene of the fire near Susies Lake, which is about 10 kilometres west of downtown Halifax. Open fires were banned across the province, and violations come with a 25-thousand-dollar fine. Premier Tim Houston told reporters that 12 people have been fined since last week.
14 – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he wanted Ottawa to act as a Chinese tariff of nearly 76 per cent on Canadian canola seed came into full force. Poilievre also repeated his call for Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel a o$1 billion federal loan given to BC Ferries, which is purchasing Chinese-made ships. The Chinese duty has already caused the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops to drop – wiping out millions of dollars in its value.
15 – U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Russian Vladimir Putin didn’t reach a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine after meeting. Putin said they had come to “an understanding” as the two leaders offered scant details on what was discussed, but heaped praise on each other. In brief remarks after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting in Alaska, Putin warned Europe not to “torpedo” the progress made. However, Trump then said, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” and said he planned to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders soon.
15 – The chief of a First Nation along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast called the day “a loss for the community” as it mourned the discovery of 41 additional unmarked graves. The shishalh First Nation said 81 graves have been found using ground-penetrating radar in an 18-month search of the former St. Augustine’s Residential School site. In a video statement, Chief Lenora Joe says the latest discoveries aren’t surprising, and the nation always felt it had enough proof that deaths happened at the school.
15 – Actor Tristan Rogers, who was known for his role as Robert Scorpio on “General Hospital,” died at the age of 79. Rogers first appeared on the show in 1980 and became a beloved character. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he initially pursued music before turning to acting, moving to Los Angeles and landing a role on the show. He also appeared in other series like “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless.”
16 – The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants said its members walked off the job after it was unable to reach an eleventh-hour deal with the airline. Both sides remained at odds over wage issues, with the union claiming the company has only offered “poverty wages.” Air Canada said all flights would be cancelled for the duration of the work stoppage. Hours before the strike deadline passed, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged both the airline and the union to get back to the negotiating table — suggesting she’s not ready to intervene.
16 – The Trump administration reversed course and agreed to leave the Washington police chief in control of the department. The two sides sparred in court for hours before a U.S. district judge indicated the law likely didn’t grant the administration power to fully take over city police. DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb said the ruling was a victory for the city’s jurisdiction.
17 – Air Canada said roughly 940 of its flights have been cancelled amid a work stoppage spurred on by a dispute with the airline and its flight attendants. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said workers were poised to remain on strike in defiance of a recent back-to-work order from Ottawa. Natasha Stea, the head of a local CUPE union representing employees in Montreal, joined a picket line at Toronto’s Pearson airport today. Air Canada initially planned to resume flights after the federal government stepped in and ordered binding arbitration.
18 – Public Safety Canada said about 78,000 square kilometres of land had been burned so far this year. It’s the second-highest amount on record after 2023, and more than twice the 10-year average. Federal government forecasters also predicted above-average seasonal temperatures for most of the country over the next three months.
18 – A rural Alberta riding sent Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre back to the House of Commons. Poilievre won the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection in rural Alberta. Poilievre ran in Alberta after losing his Ottawa riding of 20 years in the federal election this spring.
19 – Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants reached a tentative deal to end a strike. It came hours after the union confirmed both sides had resumed talks in Toronto with the help of a mediator. Around 10,000 flight attendants had refused to return to work despite Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration. The board ruled that the strike was unlawful.
20 – Air Canada said it was adopting a policy to cover some transportation expenses incurred by customers getting to their destinations during the work stoppage by flight attendants. It said it would reimburse customers for those costs if they had a cancelled flight originally scheduled to depart from Aug. 15 to 23, Air Canada was unable to rebook them and they then made alternative arrangements themselves.
21 – Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump had their first phone call since Trump’s trade deal deadline passed and hiked tariffs on some Canadian imports to 35 per cent. Carney’s office said the “productive and wide-ranging” conversation focused on trade challenges, opportunities and building a new economic and security relationship between the two nations. Support for long-term peace and security in Ukraine and Europe was also discussed. A Trump administration official confirmed the call, but the president has not commented on the conversation.
21 – Luguentz Dort celebrated his NBA championship with a festive parade through his home neighbourhood. The Oklahoma City Thunder swingman lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy high while cruising in a Lamborghini as hundreds of cheering fans followed along rue Charleroi in the city’s Montreal North borough. Along with fellow Canadian MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 26-year-old Dort led the Thunder to the NBA title with a seven-game series win over the Indiana Pacers.
22 – The federal government said it was dropping some retaliatory tariffs on American products to match U.S. tariff exemptions for goods covered under the Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement in Ottawa, saying the decision would take effect on Sept. 1.
22 – A California parole board denied Lyle Menendez parole for three years. It’s the same recommendation his brother Erik received the day before. The brothers have served decades in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in a case that continues to fascinate the public. The brothers became eligible for parole in May when a judge reduced their sentences.
23 – The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification officially declared the Gaza Strip in the grips of famine. The group said hunger has been driven by fighting with Israeli forces and the blockade of aid. Israel rejected the report, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it an “outright lie.” The IPC report said more than half-a-million people in Gaza face catastrophic levels of hunger, with many at risk of dying from malnutrition-related causes.
24 – The Niagara River Lions won another Canadian Elite Basketball League championship. The River Lions defeated the Calgary Surge 79-73 at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg to win back-to-back titles. Khalil Ahmad led the River Lions with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Nathan Cayo had 14 points and six rebounds. Ahmed Hill chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds. Niagara led 42-36 at halftime and took a 63-51 lead into the final quarter.
25 – The prime minister arrived in Germany as he continued his five-day tour of Europe. Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where the two agreed to work more closely in defence, aviation, cybersecurity and clean energy.
26 – Canada and Germany signed a critical minerals partnership. Prime Minister Mark Carney said key Canadian minerals such as nickel and cobalt have gone underdeveloped for too long, while China and Russia dominate the global critical minerals market. Carney said Germany is a trailblazer in Europe when it comes to diversifying away from reliance on China and Russia. The prime minister has been moving to align Canada more closely with Europe as U.S. President Donald Trump upends the global trading system with his tariff war, and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine heightens global security risks.
26 – Canada’s point person on U.S. trade was in Washington as Ottawa looks for relief from U.S. tariffs on key sectors. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. LeBlanc’s office describes the talks as lengthy and constructive. The White House increased tariffs on Canada’s steel, aluminum and automotive sectors to 35 per cent at the beginning of the month, blaming counter-tariffs and the flow of fentanyl.
27 – A year after a devastating Russian rocket attack on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital killed four and injured a dozen, the facility was preparing to reopen with Canadian support. The Canadian Red Cross has been supporting the restoration efforts, raising $500,000 for the cost of repairing the building.
27 – Two children died, and 20 people were wounded after a shooting near a Minneapolis Catholic school. Fourteen of the wounded were children. Governor Tim Walz called the shooting horrific. Minneapolis’s police chief said the shooter – a male in his 20s – turned the gun on himself after opening fire with 116 rifle rounds on a Catholic mass near Annunciation Catholic School.
28 – Canada named a new high commissioner to India. Christopher Cooter will take on the role – 10 months after both countries expelled their top envoys. Relations between Canada and India have been strained since Canadian police accused New Delhi of playing a role in the 2023 killing of a Sikh activist in B.C. The chill began to lift slightly this year when Prime Minister Mark Carney invited his counterpart from India to the G7 summit in Alberta and both countries agreed to restore their top diplomats.
28 – A new national report on abuse and maltreatment in sport said the federal government needed to do more to protect athletes. The Future of Sport in Canada Commission’s preliminary report said it heard about what it calls “deeply ingrained” issues. They include a culture of silence that’s led to abuse and maltreatment, as well as underfunding and a lack of diversity. The report set out 71 recommendations, including a new independent body to oversee sport and physical activity across the country.
29 – The B.C. General Employees’ Union said provincial public sectors workers voted to approve strike action. The union gave 72 hours’ notice. The union said the strike vote was called after a breakdown in negotiations between the union and the agency last month.
29 – A United States federal appeals court ruled that many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on other nations are illegal. However, the court allowed the levies to remain in place as the case likely progresses to the Supreme Court. In a 7-4 decision, judges said Trump overstepped his authority under a national security law that doesn’t mention tariffs. The Court of Appeals for the federal Circuit said his so-called Liberation Day and fentanyl-related duties exceed national security statutes.
30 – Three Scottish brothers set a world record for completing the fastest unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean. Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean completed the journey in 139 days. They rowed over 14,000 kilometres non-stop from Peru, becoming the first team to achieve the full crossing from South America to Australia. The trio from Edinburgh endured seasickness, injuries and violent storms, including one that swept Lachlan overboard. His brother saved him. The Macleans raised over just over $1 million for clean water projects.
31 – Officials in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province said some two million people have been affected by the biggest flood in the area’s history. The province’s senior minister said the three rivers in the area have seen water levels reach all-time highs. Local authorities were using educational institutions, police, and security facilities as rescue camps while carrying out some evacuations by boat.
31 – A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing 800 people and injuring 2,500 people. Officials said the death toll was expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in the dead of the night in search of missing loved ones after the quake hit near the city of Jalalabad and had several aftershocks.
31 – A devastating landslide wiped out an entire village in Sudan’s Darfur region, killing an estimated 1,000 people. The tragedy occurred in the Tarasin village in Central Darfur’s Marrah Mountains after days of heavy rainfall. The Sudan Liberation Movement-Army is appealing for the United Nations and international aid groups to help recover the bodies.
The Canadian Press
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