The "Gub" Blog: Saturday, May 23, 2026

On This Day in History – May 23

1455 – The Battle of St. Albans marks the first major clash in England’s Wars of the Roses, setting off decades of civil conflict over the crown.
1873 – Canada’s Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police (forerunner of today’s RCMP), extending federal authority into the Prairies.
1903 – Italian King Victor Emmanuel III declares war on Austria-Hungary, bringing Italy into the First World War on the side of the Allies.
1951 – Tibet is formally incorporated as an “autonomous region” of the People’s Republic of China, helping to ignite a Tibetan independence movement that continues into the 21st century.
1960 – An earthquake off the coast of Chile triggers a massive tsunami that strikes multiple Pacific nations and reshapes global approaches to tsunami warning systems.
2015 – Ireland becomes the first country in the world to legalize same‑sex marriage by national referendum, a landmark in global LGBTQ+ rights.

(You can trim or swap events as desired; the mix above gives Europe, Asia, the Americas, and global social change.)

Yesterday (May 22): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced an October referendum question on whether the province should begin the legal process for a future binding vote on separation, sparking intense debate on national unity and federal‑provincial relations.
Expected today (May 23): Prime Minister Mark Carney continues a unity offensive, emphasizing Alberta as “at the heart” of his national economic strategy while Ottawa and provincial leaders trade messages aimed at calming markets and public opinion ahead of the referendum campaign.

Yesterday (May 22): Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation, adding to the rapid turnover in President Donald Trump’s national security team and prompting questions about the administration’s stability and continuity on intelligence and foreign policy.

Markets, diplomats, and security analysts focused on Alberta’s planned referendum question about potentially advancing toward a future separation vote, raising concerns about the long‑term integrity of the Canadian federation and its economic and geopolitical posture.
In Washington, the resignation of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence reinforced global worries about policy volatility in the Trump administration, especially on intelligence sharing, alliances, and crisis management.

“The future depends on what you do today.”

(Widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi; short, practical, and suitable for a general audience.)

Sunrise (today, May 23): Approximately 5:23–5:24 a.m.
Sunset (today, May 23): Approximately 8:35–8:36 p.m.
Moon phase: Waxing crescent, roughly one‑third to just under half illuminated as the Moon moves toward first quarter.
Regular gas price: Recent local reports and crowd‑sourced data suggest typical Ottawa prices clustered around the mid‑ to high‑1.60s per litre (for example, roughly 1.65–1.75 CAD/L), but individual stations vary and can change quickly.