Editor’s note: This article contains some disturbing details about experiences at residential schools in Canada and may be upsetting to some readers. For those in need of emotional support, the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available at 1-866-925-4419.
The Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan says they have uncovered the “horrific and shocking discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves” at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School.
In a release, they say the number of graves is the most “significantly substantial to date in Canada.”
A press conference will be held on Thursday to reveal the details of the findings.
Perry Bellegarde, the chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in a tweet late Wednesday that the finding at Cowessess is “absolutely tragic, but not surprising.”
“I urge all Canadians to stand with First Nations in this extremely difficult and emotional time.”
The discovery comes soon after another mass grave was unearthed by the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation at the former Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia last month.
The remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found buried on the school grounds – once the largest in Canada’s residential school system.
Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation said at the time the discovery was an “unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.”
The federal government has since offered $27 million in funding for all First Nations communities to help identify and investigate marked and unmarked burial grounds near residential schools.
Ontario has committed $10 million and Alberta $8 million for Indigenous communities to locate and investigate grounds surrounding residential schools in those provinces. Manitoba has also announced $2.5 million in funding to identify and commemorate burial sites at residential schools in the province.
The Quebec and federal governments have announced a plan for a central place for the province’s Indigenous communities to go for support over former residential schools.
Toronto police are looking for a man who allegedly assaulted a store employee over a mask dispute, leaving him with the possibility of life-altering injuries.
Investigators say the incident took place at a drug store in the area of Yonge and Carlton Street just before 5 p.m. on June 17.
The interaction took place inside the store between a man and an employee about the man’s face mask. The suspect reportedly became agitated and was escorted from the store.
When they were outside, police say the man punched one of the store employees and then stomped on his head with his feet.
The employee was taken to hospital where he remains in serious condition, with the possibility of life-altering injuries.
Police say the suspect is described as six foot to six foot two inches with a muscular build. He was dressed in all black clothing, wearing a blue face mask, white do-rag on his head and carrying a black and brown bag.
Investigators are urging the man to contact police immediately.
A partial building collapse in Miami caused a massive response early Thursday from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, according to a tweet from the department’s account.
“Over 80 MDFR units including #TRT (Technical Rescue Teams) are on scene with assistance from municipal fire departments,” the tweet said.
Miami Dade Fire Rescue is conducting search and rescue. Authorities had no word yet on casualties, or details of how many people lived in the building.
Police blocked nearby roads, and scores of fire and rescue vehicles, ambulances and police cars swarmed the area.
“We’re on the scene so it’s still very active,” said Sgt. Marian Cruz of Miami Dade Fire Rescue. “What I can tell you is the building is twelve floors. The entire back side of the building has collapsed.”
Photos and video from the scene show that the collapse affected half the tower. Piles of rubble and debris surrounded the area just outside the building. The department has yet to say what may have caused the collapse near 88th Street and Collins Avenue.
According to the Miami Herald, the 12-story condo tower, part of Champlain Towers, is an oceanside condo built in 1981 with more than 100 units.
The area is a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The community provides a stark contrast from bustle and glitz of South Beach with a slower paced neighborhood feel.
Killer rapist Paul Bernardo has been denied parole again.
Two officers with the Parole Board of Canada took about an hour to reject his release application on Tuesday.
Their decision came after Bernardo said he was a changed person who now has his sexual deviancy under control.
Earlier in the day, the families of the victims read heart-wrenching statements at the serial killer’s parole hearing, explaining how the hearing process is akin to reliving the nightmares Bernardo inflicted on their families.
Bernardo’s horrific crimes in the 1980s and early 1990s include kidnapping, torturing and killing Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy near St. Catharines, Ont.
At his last parole hearing in October 2018, it took just 30 minutes for the Parole Board of Canada to reject his release.
In their statement, French’s parents, Doug and Donna, called Bernardo a “psychopath” who must “never be allowed in a position where he can repeat his atrocities.”
“We cannot think of anything that would be worse than the years of pain and suffering that we have endured as a result of the heinous crimes Paul Bernardo committed against Kristen, than Paul Bernardo being released back into the community when we know, as sure as night follows day, that he will commit more heinous crimes against other beautiful young, innocent children.”
“For those who say that time heals, they don’t know the excruciating pain that comes from such a horrific loss. Time doesn’t heal the pain; the pain is a life sentence.”
“We are an extremely blessed family that enjoyed all sorts of family fun, but now it is like there is a dark cloud always hanging over us.”
Mahaffy’s family said: “Memories of that horrendous time are just as vivid today as they were then. There is no escape for us from this horror.”
“Since the last Parole Hearing in October 2018, we have tried to forget about this dangerous offender’s existence and enjoy and remember everything about Leslie’s short and precious life. Yet once again, Bernardo’s desires are inflicted on us as he inserts himself into our lives again, forcing his horrors and terrifying memories upon us.”
“What does resting in peace mean when we have to relive these horrors every two or so years for the rest of our lives?
“This unnecessary re-victimization must stop.”
Bernardo is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault among other offences.
The designated dangerous offender has been eligible for full parole for more than three years.
Toronto police have arrested a second man in connection to a gunfight at a child’s birthday party in Rexdale that injured three children, one critically.
Police say Kevin George, 21 of Toronto, is facing four counts of aggravated assault as well as numerous gun charges.
On Monday, police announced their first arrest in the investigation. Twenty-four-year-old Demar Cadogan, who was the lone adult injured in the incident, was arrested and is now facing four gun charges including discharge firearm with intent. Cadogan remains in hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Police allege George and Cadogan became involved in an argument at the party, and began shooting at each other. Toronto police Chief James Ramer said investigators believe others starting shooting as well. “We will be arresting all of you,” Ramer vowed.
Ramer couldn’t say how many suspects were being sought.
“What I know is there was an argument and they started to exchange gunfire, which to any common sense person is absurd,” Ramer added.
“It makes me very angry. It’s very traumatic.”
In an update Monday, police said two of the children injured in the gunfire have been released from hospital while a five-year-old girl remains in critical condition.
Emergency crews were called to a home in Rexdale around 8 p.m. Saturday for a shooting at a birthday for a one-year-old boy.
According to police, the boy was grazed by a bullet while an 11-year-old boy was shot in the buttocks.
The brazen shooting outraged local politicians.
Premier Doug Ford called the shooting “inconceivable and beyond comprehension,” adding the “perpetrators must be found and brought to justice.”
Mayor John Tory issued a statement Sunday morning saying firing a gun in Toronto is unacceptable “anywhere anytime,” but “doing so at a child’s birthday party goes way beyond that.”
Veteran police Superintendent Ron Taverner called it “one of the most disturbing scenes” he’s seen in his long career.
“It’s disgusting,” Taverner said Sunday. “As much as this is a horrific, horrific situation, it could have been worse. There could be three dead children.”
Emmalyn, who attended the party with her son, said the ramifications of the violence will be long-lasting.
“These kids are going to remember this. It’s summertime, these kids are supposed to be eating ice cream, playing games. I’m lost for words because I don’t know what to say.”
“To know that you were here, you seen the atmosphere and know that 80 per cent of the people that were here were children. Your heartless, your cold, bottom line.”
The Detroit Pistons did a lot of losing this season, finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA and the franchise’s worst record in nearly 30 years.
It paid off.
The Pistons won the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night, grabbing the No. 1 pick in the July 29 draft and presumably the chance to select Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham. If the Pistons keep the pick, it’ll be the first time they select No. 1 overall since taking Bob Lanier in 1970.
Houston will pick second, Cleveland will pick third, and Toronto will pick fourth. Orlando will get the No. 5 and No. 8 selections, with Oklahoma City picking No. 6 and Golden State also with two lottery slots – No. 7, as part of a trade with Minnesota, and the Warriors’ own pick at No. 14.
The rest of the lottery results: Sacramento picks No. 9, New Orleans No. 10, Charlotte No. 11, San Antonio at No. 12, and Indiana at No. 13.
The Raptors, who had the seventh best chance at winning the lottery, had a rough season. Forced to play out of Tampa, Fla., due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, and hit hard by an outbreak of the virus in March, they finished 27-45 and 12th in the Eastern Conference.
They had a 7.5% chance of landing the No. 1 pick. Point guard Fred VanVleet represented Toronto – virtually – at the event.
The Raptors have had the No. 4 pick twice before. In 1998, they picked Antawn Jamison and traded to Golden State for Vince Carter, who went No. 5. And in 2003, they selected Chris Bosh.
The lottery – 14 ping-pong balls, all numbered 1 through 14, placed into a hopper – technically only determines the first four picks. The rest then default to a pre-established order of finish; Golden State, for example, had only a 2.4% chance of its own pick being anything other than the No. 14 selection.
And form held through the first six picks that were unveiled. The No. 8 pick, which was slotted to go to Chicago, winds up with the Magic as part of the Nikola Vucevic trade from this season. That’s when the first significant buck-the-odds move happened, when Toronto’s 31.9% chance of cashing into a top-four slot delivered.
The Thunder will have three first-round picks, but none higher than No. 6.
The Rockets had a 52% chance of winning a top-four pick – which meant it was basically even money.
The worst Houston could do was the No. 5 selection, and that truly was a worst-case scenario because if the Rockets were outside of the top four the pick would convey to Oklahoma City as part of the compensation for the Russell Westbrook trade between those teams in 2019.
But they held on, getting the No. 2 pick as one of the building blocks they can use to reload after finishing with the NBA’s worst record this season.
The consensus opinion has been that the No. 1 pick will be either a one-and-done college player – Cunningham, Southern California center Evan Mosley or Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs – or someone from the G-League development program like guard Jalen Green or forward Jonathan Kuminga.
And, as always, it’ll be a guessing game: Most of the players expected to be lottery picks are teenagers, mostly 19, some 18.
The rest of the first round, for now, is slotted this way – Washington will pick 15th, followed by Oklahoma City, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New York, Atlanta, New York, the Los Angeles Lakers, then Houston at both No. 23 and No. 24, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Utah.
Three people have been charged after confrontations between Toronto police and protesters as City of Toronto crews moved in Tuesday to evict those living in encampments at Trinity Bellwoods Park.
A 35-year-old woman was charged with assault with a weapon, a 23-year-old man is facing a charge of assaulting a peace officer while a 33-year-old man is facing two charges of weapons dangerous. Court dates for the people charged have not been provided yet.
According to reports, people have torn down the fences that were put up to stop people from moving and police has used pepper spray on protesters.
Officials said there are around 20-25 people living at the encampment, as well as 65 tents and other structures.
“We have safe indoor spaces for everybody who is encamped at Trinity Bellwoods Park. We have continued to engage with people in the park, [but] at some point we do need to enforce the park’s bylaw to ensure that our parks are accessible for all,” City spokesperson Brad Ross told Breakfast Television.
“We only do that when we have safe, indoor space for people to come into, either a shelter or hotel program … they will have access to a housing worker so that they can be housed. Affordable housing, supportive housing is the goal for all people who are experiencing homelessness.”
In a release, the City said those evicted from the encampment will have access to meals, showers, laundry services, harm reduction, as well as physical and mental health supports.
Those living at the encampment will be given three hours to gather their belongings and vacate the site. They will be able to take two bags with them, and the rest of their belongings will be collected and stored for up to 30 days to be picked up at a later date.
The City said police are on site to “ensure the safety of encampment residents and City workers.”
“The City remains focused on providing a human services response to encampments and peaceful, voluntary referrals for people sleeping outdoors to safer, inside space.”
Last month, a violent confrontation erupted as the City dismantled a homeless encampment at Lamport Stadium near King Street West and Dufferin Street. Three police officers suffered minor injuries, and one man was charged with assaulting an officer.
Encampments have popped up throughout the pandemic as more shelter-users take to the streets instead.
Ross said the City has been reaching out to those living in encampments since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
“We have referred more than 1,700 people into safe indoor spaces and we have found permanent housing for more than 5,500 people who were in the shelter system,” he said.
The high risk of fires at encampments across the city has been an increasing concern. One person died after a fire broke out at an encampment near Adelaide and Parliament streets in February. Since 2010, seven people died after fires broke out at various sites.
City officials said there have been 114 fire events in encampments so far this year, including nine in the past week. Last year, firefighters responded to 253 fires in encampments.
“Encampments are not safe … when you include the debris that has accumulated in encampments, as well as other combustibles like gasoline and propane tanks make these encampments incredibly unsafe, not just for people living in them but the first responders when they’re called and the general public,” Ross said.
“These parks need to be safe, they need to be accessible to every resident, and the park’s bylaw does allow the City to clear encampments because [they] are not permitted.”
The City is in the midst of a massive program to move as many people as it can out of congregate living situations such as shelters into hotel rooms and apartments.
However, advocates have criticized the City’s actions on the homeless front, accusing it of moving too slowly and leaving those inside shelters vulnerable to COVID-19.
Moderna will be the vaccine of choice for Ontarians in Toronto and Peel Region this week due to a decrease in the supply of Pfizer vaccines.
Toronto officials say they were informed Saturday that some 162,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine would be delayed this week. In order to continue with appointments already booked at City-run clinics over the next few weeks, Toronto Public Health says it will increase the administration of Moderna vaccines.
The city says the limited supply of Pfizer doses will be used to vaccinate anyone under the age of 18 as it is the only vaccine approved for use in Canada for anyone in that age bracket.
Public health officials stress that both Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines and according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) there is “no important difference” between the two.
“With the Delta variant growing at an exponential rate in Toronto, vaccines are one of our key strategies to slow transmission,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. “Both Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are interchangeable, equally effective and safe for everyone over 18 years. If you have an appointment, keep it. If you don’t have an appointment for a first or second dose, make one as soon as you are eligible.”
Peel Public Health says the Moderna vaccine will be administered in its clinics at least until June 24, saving its supply of Pfizer doses for those between the ages of 12 to 17.
“This Pfizer shipment delay provides us an opportunity to remind our community of the clear science around interchangeability,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel’s Medical Officer of Health. “I urge all residents to access two-dose protection in any approved combination as quickly as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.”
Pfizer, which has been the only steady and reliable vaccine maker for Canada so far and hasn’t missed a planned shipment since February, said last week it was going to have cut back on Canada’s shipments in early July.
Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Pfizer is still shipping the promised 9.1 million doses in July, but they will mostly come in the second half of the month.
Toronto police have charged a man in connection to a shooting at a child’s birthday party in Rexdale on Saturday that sent three children to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.
Police say the accused, Demar Cadogan, was the lone adult injured in the incident.
Cadogan, who was shot in the leg, is now facing four gun charges, including discharge firearm with intent.
Earlier Monday, police said two of the children injured in the gunfire have been released from hospital while a five-year-old girl remains in critical condition.
Emergency crews were called to a home in Rexdale around 8 p.m. Saturday for a shooting at a birthday for a one-year-old boy.
According to police, the boy was grazed by a bullet while an 11-year-old boy was shot in the buttocks.
Cadogan is the first person arrested in the case, but police say there are multiple suspects.
The brazen shooting outraged local politicians.
Premier Doug Ford called the shooting “inconceivable and beyond comprehension,” adding the “perpetrators must be found and brought to justice.”
Mayor John Tory issued a statement Sunday morning saying firing a gun in Toronto is unacceptable “anywhere anytime,” but “doing so at a child’s birthday party goes way beyond that.”
Veteran police Superintendent Ron Taverner called it “one of the most disturbing scenes” he’s seen in his long career.
“It’s disgusting,” Taverner said Sunday. “As much as this is a horrific, horrific situation, it could have been worse. There could be three dead children.”
Emmalyn, who attended the party with her son, said the ramifications of the violence will be long-lasting.
“These kids are going to remember this. It’s summertime, these kids are supposed to be eating ice cream, playing games. I’m lost for words because I don’t know what to say.”
“To know that you were here, you seen the atmosphere and know that 80 per cent of the people that were here were children. Your heartless, your cold, bottom line.”
A man facing terrorism charges for allegedly targeting and killing a Muslim family with his truck in southwestern Ontario appeared in court via video on Monday.
Nathaniel Veltman, 20, faces four first-degree murder charges and an attempted murder charge that prosecutors allege constitute an act of terrorism.
Veltman, who is in the process of retaining a lawyer, stood quietly with his hands clasped in front of him as he appeared via video wearing orange prison-issued clothing.
His next court date has been scheduled for June 28.
Police have said the attack on June 6 in London, Ont., was motivated by hate against the Islamic faith.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed while out for an evening walk.
The couple’s nine-year-old son, Fayez, was seriously hurt.
The attack prompted a massive outpouring of support for the family and calls for all levels of government to address Islamophobia.
