After months of planning and deliberation over a possible theme, Hamber’s Student Council (StuCo) hosted a Paris-themed dance on Apr. 16.

For decades, Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been a symbol of academic ambition, but for many students, they also mean stress, long hours spent studying, and intense pressure. As enrollment rises, so does a key question. Do AP classes truly offer an advantage, or are they overwhelming students who are trying to keep up?

Hamber students have turned fundraising into a competition, as eight teachers race to raise money for childhood cancer, knowing that the top four will have their heads shaved in front of spectators on Apr. 30.

2026 has been a year of physical media resurgence, bringing renewed attention to vinyl records and paperback books, and also restoring an interest in films. Movies are once again being appreciated not just for their content, but as a reflection of viewers’ personal tastes and interests — a trend that is echoed in Hamberites’ individual film preferences.

With spring’s arrival, Hamber’s fields, courts, and tracks have come to life. Less than two months remain before summer break, and the spring sports season is in full swing. Fifteen teams are competing this season, and Hamber’s athletes are looking to build on their progress and make the most of the experience.

From Feb. 26 to Mar. 1, Rosy and Victoria Hogan, two identical twins from Hamber, attended the 2026 Trail-Rossland BC Winter Games. Competing as speed skaters representing Special Olympics BC, Rosy and Victoria were awarded five medals apiece; Rosy won four silver medals and one bronze, and Victoria won one silver medal and four bronze medals.

Over spring break, Hamber students travelled across the globe. Challenge Studio students visited Italy, band students explored Montreal and Quebec City, and choir students toured London.

On Mar. 5, the VPD announced that two youths were facing charges in relation to a stabbing that happened after a basketball game at Eric Hamber Secondary School last month.

As of Apr. 1, all Canadian passport renewal applicants will be eligible to receive a full refund if Service Canada takes more than thirty business days to process their applications, not including mailing times.

On Apr. 13, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal Party secured a parliamentary majority in the House of Commons. This majority was achieved after five opposition MPs crossed the floor to join the Liberal caucus, and three federal by-elections in Ontario and Quebec were won by Liberal candidates.

Young Canadians currently searching for employment are faced with one of the highest unemployment rates that Canada has ever seen, according to CBC. The most recent labour force survey conducted by Statistics Canada reveals that the unemployment rate for Canadians aged 15 to 24 was 13.8 per cent in March, compared to the national average of 6.7 per cent overall.

On Feb. 21, the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season commenced. As the first ten games of the year were played, the standings unfolded with the Whitecaps among the top, even though they played one less game. Impressively, the Whitecaps have emerged from last season’s Cup Final heartbreak with an 8-0-1 (W-T-L) record.

For the first time since the 1982-83 season, Vancouver reported its first snowless winter, which was also the second warmest winter of the city's history. Experts say the lack of snow demonstrates the impact of global warming, and they worry that the warm winter will lead to a worse forest fire season and additional water shortages.

While staples of the city, springtime in Vancouver includes more than mountain views and cherry blossoms. This spring, the arts scene encompasses a variety of interesting acts, with everything from ballet to Shakespeare available for interested viewers.

In December 2025, Australia banned social media for anyone under 16. A recent poll by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute suggests that Canadian citizens would support a similar decision.

After Jagmeet Singh’s resignation, Avi Lewis was elected leader of Canada's New Democratic Party on Mar. 29 in Winnipeg. He received 56 per cent of the vote on the first ballot, with a total of 39,734 votes.

Vancouver will host seven FIFA World Cup matches at BC Place from Jun. 13 to Jul. 11, which is estimated to bring over one million visitors to the province. This increase in tourism is predicted to benefit hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and thousands of local businesses across the city. However, it may also limit housing availability, increase demand for police and emergency services, and strain public transit systems and infrastructure.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing criticism and concern from Canadians ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which millions of fans are expected to attend. ICE currently has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. A number of residents and government officials have voiced opposition to ICE’s presence, as the agency would “create fear [among visitors],” Toronto mayor Olivia Chow said, according to CTV News.

Spring has sprung, and so has the search for seasonal activities. Luckily, Vancouver offers countless events and activities worth checking out this season, including shopping at markets, wandering through scenic gardens, and musical performances.

On Apr. 2, the BC Court of Appeal granted full Aboriginal title over a 210-square-kilometre part of Nootka Island to the Nuchatlaht peoples. The Nuchahlaht are a First Nation group of around 170 members that primarily live on the north side of Vancouver Island.

The defending American League Championship Series (ALCS) winner Toronto Blue Jays are back on the diamond for the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. After a heartbreaking game-seven World Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Jays are undoubtedly hoping to make a return to the playoffs.

In parliamentary elections held in Hungary on Apr. 11, Péter Magyar, the leader of the TISZA party, defeated incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, ending his 16 year tenure as prime minister.

On Apr. 1, NASA’s Artemis II mission launched, setting off a ten-day mission around the far side of the moon, which had previously never been observed by the human eye. Artemis II set off with the objective of running tests and collecting samples for future flights.

Every spring, Coachella, an internationally-renowned music and arts festival begins at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Since its inauguration in 1999, the music festival has shifted from a handful of local shows to a global cultural movement that blends music, social media, and fashion.

The United States has now experienced over a year of steady decline in Canadian travel, aligning with the beginning of Trump’s tariffs and 51st state comments.

The UK’s widely popular three-day rap and hip-hop music event, the Wireless Festival, has been officially cancelled for 2026 following the legal barring of its sole headliner Ye, an American artist formerly known as Kanye West.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have designed a cellular immunotherapy that may remove harmful protein plaques linked to Alzheimer’s disorder from the brain in a single injection.

On Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the world celebrated the 60th annual Super Bowl. The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks competed to win the title of the NFL Super Bowl Champions and receive the Vince Lombardi Trophy, with the Seahawks emerging victorious.

In early December 2025, US President Donald Trump’s administration introduced an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota’s cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, deploying thousands of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the areas.