March 2026

FROM THE EDITOR

This time of year, T8N normally dedicates space to the surrounding landscape as it morphs from brown to green, a sure sign of the perennial birth of spring. But in this edition, we opted to examine an issue concerning the other end of the life cycle. 

Unlike the seasons, death doesn’t have a designated period and happens only once to everyone. Grief over the passing of a loved one can be brutal, but all that anguish stands to skyrocket once the family receives the funeral bill. In Canada, an average funeral costs nearly $8,000, yet another liability to families already dealing with high food costs and other escalating expenses. 

Fortunately, the rest of the edition sports much brighter content, such as visual artist Robert Murray’s relentless drive to paint 2,000 murals, clothing venue Bella Maas’s pledge to deliver a positive shopping experience, and DJ Chantal Dunn’s realization of a dream to prosper in the music biz.

T8N also continues to dole out some nifty lifestyle ideas, including how to create unique dishes with balsamic vinegar, and a rundown of consumer accessories designed to keep your spring break vacation zooming in high gear. Those hankering for something a bit more cerebral might want to challenge themselves with our quiz covering St. Albert’s colourful history.

It all adds up to an eclectic lineup as we bid farewell to Old Man Winter. Happy spring, everyone!