In this issue...
• The best and worst of 2026 corporate April Fools' jokes
• Canada Post ending door-to-door mail delivery across the country. All Canadians to be switched over to community mailboxes.
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: 1) Marketing combat sports; 2) Unhinged advertising; 3) The power of audio
• Royal Canadian Mint releases unique $20 1 oz. silver coin that reacts to black light to honour Canada's participation in Artemis II space mission
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news
• Trivia: Did you know?
• Quotes of note
• Check out these delicious recipe compilations from Brian Cormier
• Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
• Monday, April 27: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night
| |
The best and worst of 2026 corporate April Fools' jokes
The expansion of AI graphics capabilities to - well - everyone means that April Fools' jokes are easier than ever. This year was no different as corporations and organizations yet again tried to pull the wool over our eyes... and sometimes very successfully!
Article exerpt: "If you're online at all in 2026, you know it can feel like April Fools' Day every day. You've almost certainly come across videos and content, often created with AI, and had to stop and ask yourself if what you're looking at is true or made up.
Some are obvious. You mean, there aren't really beds made of kittens, cotton candy and rubies? And I wasn't really offered a job guarding a spooky funeral home where I might hear tapping coming from the morgue freezer at 3 a.m.? (Both of these are TikTok videos, and the AI is scarily good - and also just scary.)
As brands roll out their April Fools' Day jokes for this year, I keep thinking that in an AI-heavy world, the jokes seem less surprising, the faked-up art less novel. Here are some highlights from this year's list of April 1 corporate and tech jokes."
Most corporate April Fools' jokes are harmless fun, but I do take issue with public safety organizations trying to be comedians. Fire and police departments should stay away from such things. People who read their warnings and statements should be able to take them at face value 24/7/365 without having to wonder if they're just joking around.
Read: April Fools' Day 2026: The good, the bad and the bizarre of this year's corporate jokes. Related: Pot Noodle pizza to Doctor Who Darlic bread: this year’s best April fools.
| | |
Canada Post ending door-to-door mail delivery across the country. All Canadians to be switched over to community mailboxes.
There were rumours. There were proposals. And now... it's a done deal. Canadians who receive door-to-door mail delivery will be losing it over the coming years. Canada Post is seeking to cut expenses, and this is one of the ways it plans on achieving that goal.
Article excerpt: "If your dog goes crazy every time the mail delivery person shows up at your door, you may be relieved to know that it soon may no longer be a problem.
But beyond that, a lot of people are uncertain what the pending demise of door-to-door mail delivery means for them.
Canada Post said on Monday that it's moving ahead with a transformation plan that includes a transition to community mailboxes, eventually ending home delivery. It's something Public Services and Procurement Canada directed last year - as it faces what's been called an 'existential' crisis and faltering finances.
Toronto city Coun. Josh Matlow understands Canada Post needs to adapt. But he, like many Canadians, has plenty of questions about the switch to community mailboxes and concerns 'about everything from beauty and design to safety and accessibility.'"
As someone who receives door-to-door delivery, I'm not a happy camper, but I have no choice. Like millions of Canadians, I'll need to adapt. And yes, I do get mail that I need for my business and for personal use - not as much as years ago, but I still do!
Read: Canada Post is planning to end home delivery. Here's how community mailboxes will work. Related: Canada Post says it will move ahead with plan to end home delivery.
| |
CBC Radio's Under the Influence: 1) Marketing combat sports; 2) Unhinged advertising; 3) The power of audio
The last three episodes of CBC Radio's Under the Influence with host Terry O'Reilly looked at marketing combat sports, unhinged advertising and the power of audio. (Just an FYI: CBC is really slow at uploading episodes lately, so they often miss this newsletter's deadline.)
• April 9, 2026 - Selling Violence: Marketing Combat Sports: "This week, we look at the marketing of violent sports. Starting with a man named Tex Rickard, who wrote the playbook on fight promotion back in the 1920s. We’ll analyze how WWE pro wrestling took a page from Rickard to create spectacles. And we look at the phenomenon that is the UFC – and how mixed martial arts promotion can be carbon-dated all the way back to Rickard in the ‘20s." Click here to listen to the episode.
• April 2, 2026 - Unhinged Advertising: The Power of the Absurd: "This week, we look at weird, unhinged advertising. Like the 'PuppyMonkeyBaby' Super Bowl commercial (see photo above). The sad Skittles commercial where everything a man touches turns to Skittles. A leather diaper you can wear to heavy metal concerts so you won’t miss any songs. And a pizza that takes a year and a half to be delivered to your home." Click here to listen to the episode.
• March 26, 2026 - Nobody’s Ugly on Radio: The Superpower of Audio: "This week, we listen to the most creative use of sound and voice. Like the mattress company that gave people discounts based on how loud they snored. We’ll explore a radio campaign that says ugly is a superpower. And we’ll play a vinyl record that was left out in the sun that warns people about the harmful effects of UV rays." Click here to listen to the episode.
Under the Influence airs Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One; Tuesdays at 4 p.m., Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on Sirius XM Channel 169. The show is also available as a podcast through your favourite podcast provider. Click here for the show's website and click here for the show's on-demand audio archive.
Please note: For some reason, not all episodes make it to both the CBC "On Demand" page and/or the show's website page. Links are provided as available. Sadly, the website, once updated regularly, seems to have been abandoned.
| |
Royal Canadian Mint releases unique $20 1 oz. silver coin that reacts to black light to honour Canada's participation in Artemis II space mission
If you love coins and space, the Royal Canadian Mint has just released a new coin that will make you very happy: a $20 1 oz. silver coin to honour the Artemis II space mission. And if you hold it up to black light, you get cool visual effects, too!
Article excerpt: "The Royal Canadian Mint has proudly launched the 2026 $20 Fine Silver Coin – Moon Mission as Artemis II marks the historic return of crewed missions to the Moon since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. This colourful 99.99% pure silver coin, whose design comes to life with blacklight technology, also celebrates Canada’s inaugural lunar mission, on which Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian to fly around the Moon.
Designed by Canadian artist Pandora Young, the coin’s reverse illustrates Canada’s role in the international NASA-led Artemis II mission through its depiction of a CSA astronaut in a full Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) spacesuit, backed by an enlarged engraving of the Moon. Selective colour brings the astronaut’s blue-trimmed, orange-coloured OCSS spacesuit to life, with a Royal Canadian Air Force badge displayed above a CSA patch in the centre of the chest panel. The Canadian flag is also visible on the left shoulder. When viewed under black light, the Moon glows, while the iconic view of planet Earth from the Moon is reflected in the astronaut’s visor. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati."
Only 7,500 will be minted. Click here to purchase the coin for $279.95.
Read: The Royal Canadian Mint’s launches new silver collector coin to celebrate Artemis Il, the first flight of a Canadian astronaut around the moon.
| |
Trivia: Did you know?
In the Looney Tunes cartoons, the poor female cat who was the constant and persistent object of Pepe Le Pew's smelly advances had a name: Penelope Pussycat.
| |
Quotes of note
• 1. “April is the cruelest month, breeding
lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
memory and desire, stirring
dull roots with spring rain.”
- T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) (see photo), American poet, essayist and playwright, as written in The Waste Land
• 2. "'Snow in April is abominable,' said Anne. 'Like a slap in the face when you expected a kiss.'"
- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside
• 3. "It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."
- Voltaire
• 4. "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak."
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
• 5. "Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die."
- Herbert Hoover
• 6. "A drum in the hand of the right warrior can call the people to peace."
- Dr. Toni Sorenson
• 7. "The earth laughs in flowers."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
• 8. "The world would be nicer if everyone could love as unconditionally as a dog."
- M.K. Clinton
• 9. "I have three teenagers. I didn’t get an epidural when I gave birth, but I’d like one now."
- Kyle Ocasio
• 10. "Parents of teenagers understand why animals eat their young."
- Unknown
| |
Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In April, the group is walking at Rotary St-Anselme Park located at 505 Melanson Road in Dieppe. Meetup in the parking lot.
The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.
| |
Monday, April 27: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, April 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only).
Participants may play as teams or individuals. The winning team gets 50% of the door receipts as their prize.
It is strongly suggested that participants arrive by 5:15-5:30 p.m. for a seat. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp and is usually over by 8-8:15 p.m. Everyone welcome!
Please note that restaurant reservations are NOT available for this event. First come, first served. Limited seating of approximately 50 guests.
Participants may bring an optional non-perishable food item (box of granola bars, Kraft Dinner, cereal, canned goods, etc.) for distribution at Krista Richard's Community Sports Program events, of which the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club is a sponsor. Any donations will be gratefully received and provided to Krista for distribution to her program participants (school-aged children from Moncton-area schools).
Since Rotary Trivia Nights began in 2016, the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club has donated more than $20,000 to Atlantic Wellness, Karing Kitchen, Ray of Hope Kitchen, Salvus Clinic, The Humanity Project, BGC Moncton (Moncton Boys & Girls Club), Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Project Linus - Moncton Chapter, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Children's Wish Canada, Krista Richard's Community Sports Program and Bicycle Program, Diabetes Canada's D-Camps for kids, and Anglophone East School District's School Supplies Drive, among others.
The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of our restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a no telephone rule at these events. The answers cannot be researched except among discussion with your team members.
Facebook event listing: bit.ly/4lNQRsV
| | |
About this newsletter
Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.
| | © 2026 Bricor Communications | | | | |
