Quebec police investigating fires at Jewish summer camp near Ottawa as possible hate crime
MRC des Collines de l'Outaouais police are investigating a suspected arson at Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa's summer camp site in Quyon, Que. Feb. 12, 2023. (police handout)
A pair of fires at a Jewish summer camp near Quyon, Que. are being investigated as criminal, police said Monday, and a hate crime cannot be ruled out.
The MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais police said Sunday that emergency crews responded to a call at 4:30 a.m. for a fire at Camp B'nai Brith on Chem. River in the Pontiac region. The camp's warehouse was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. As firefighters battled the fire in the warehouse, a second fire started in a nearby building.
In a news release Monday, police said the fire is being investigated as an arson but the motive remains unclear.
"At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that this was an antisemitic or racially motivated act; however, it is still too early in the investigation to rule out this possibility," the news release said.
The fires did an estimated $600,000 worth of damage, police said.
Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa officials told CTV News that no one from the organization would have been on site overnight when the fire started.
The camp's website says its mission is to provide children with the opportunity to "experience the outdoors, learn new skills and develop life-long friendships while enhancing Jewish values, traditions, affiliation and community." Camp B'nai Brith has operated since 1935.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle and Shaun Vardon.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING New clues emerge in hunt for gunman who killed health insurance CEO
As the hunt for a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of the largest U.S. health insurer moved into its third day Friday, surveillance footage provided more clues about the suspect's travels and the places he visited before the shooting.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate calling on PM Trudeau to send $250 cheques to more Canadians
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP have forced a debate today on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility.
Canadian unemployment rate jumps near 8-year high
Canada had 1.5 million unemployed people in November, propelling its jobless rate to a near-eight-year high outside of the pandemic era and boosting chances of a large interest rate cut on Dec. 11.
Canada's list of banned guns is expanding. Here's what you need to know
Canada is expanding its federal ban on firearms, adding 324 makes and models of guns to the prohibited weapons list, effective immediately.
What is still being delivered? What to know about the Canada Post strike
With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
80-year-old driver with expired licence accused of going nearly double the speed limit in eastern Ontario
Ontario Provincial Police say a man caught stunt driving on Highway 37 near Tweed, Ont. Thursday was 80 years old, and his licence was expired.
Jasper family reunites with cat missing 100 days in the wilderness
Nicole Klopfenstein's four-year-old black and white tabby survived in the wilderness for more than 100 days after a ferocious wildfire forced the evacuation of the Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, Alta., this summer.
Atlantic
-
Maritime weekend weather: Cold start and snowy finish
Colder temperatures lie ahead for the weekend in the Maritimes with another swipe of snow and rain expected Sunday.
-
West Hants RCMP in Nova Scotia charge man following traffic stop
West Hants RCMP in Nova Scotia charged a man with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and seized drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop.
-
P.E.I. ferry cancels crossings Friday for weather, two weeks before closing for the season
Ferry service between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island has been cancelled Friday due to inclement weather.
Toronto
-
Hamilton police shut down ‘open air drug market’ they say was 'run like a business'
Hamilton Police say that they have shut down an "open air drug market" in the vicinity of a downtown laneway that appeared to be "run like a business."
-
Six crashes reported north of Toronto due to slippery conditions
Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to six crashes north of Toronto overnight due to slippery conditions brought on by a blast of winter weather.
-
Fiery truck appears to explode live on air during CP24 traffic update, no injuries reported
An unoccupied truck that was engulfed in flames at the side of the Gardiner Expressway appeared to explode live on air during a CP24 traffic update on Friday.
Montreal
-
Man arrested in Quebec for alleged plot to kill Jews in NYC being held in Rimouski
A Pakistani man arrested in Quebec for an alleged plot to kill Jews in New York City is being held in a detention centre hundreds of kilometres from Montreal, where he says the French-speaking guards don't understand him.
-
'Duty to learn': Vigils mark 35th anniversary of Polytechnique anti-feminist killings
Braving a biting winter wind, dignitaries gathered in front of Polytechnique Montréal's main campus on Friday to pay tribute to the 14 women killed at the Montreal institution in an anti-feminist attack 35 years ago.
-
Montreal blacksmith says he has a 'place in paradise' as Notre-Dame reopens its doors
Five years ago, Notre-Dame Cathedral erupted in flames. A column of smoke rose above the Paris skyline as the historic cathedral, which took 182 years to build between the 12th and 14th centuries, was reduced to a smouldering shell.
Northern Ontario
-
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
-
Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11
Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers.
-
Someone shot and abandoned a moose cow near Chapleau, Ont.
Conservation officers with the Ministry of Natural Resources are asking for the public's help to find the person who shot and abandoned a cow moose earlier this year near Chapleau.
Windsor
-
Windsor’s jobless rate highest in Canada
Windsor's unemployment rate is slightly better than last month, but it’s still the highest in Canada.
-
Arrest warrant issued in $64,000 bank fraud investigation
The Windsor Police Service has issued an arrest warrant for a 29-year-old woman wanted in connection to an ongoing bank fraud investigation.
-
Property crimes down, crimes against people up: WPS
The November statistics released by Windsor police show property crimes are down and crimes against people are up.
London
-
Three suspects still sought, one arrested in break-and-enter, shooting investigation
The London police continue to search for three suspects in connection to a break-and-enter and shooting investigation that took place last month.
-
Community angst over surprise changes to Durham hospital
After losing all of its inpatient beds and seeing its emergency room hours cut earlier this year, the Durham hospital is finally getting some good news. New healthcare services are coming to the rural hospital.
-
Human remains found at Hanover construction site
The Hanover Police Service is investigating human remains that were dug up at a construction site.
Kitchener
-
Threat that caused school lockdowns in Guelph came from the United States
Guelph Police Service is releasing more information about a call that caused two schools to go into lockdown and a third to implement hold-and-secure measures earlier this week.
-
Pedestrian airlifted to hospital after she was hit by driver in Guelph
A pedestrian with non-life-threatening injuries has been airlifted to a Hamilton hospital after she was hit by a driver.
-
Kitchener house fire sends plumes of thick, black smoke into the air
No injuries have been reported after a fire in Kitchener Friday morning.
Barrie
-
Winter travel advisory issued due another day of messy road conditions
Emergency crews were kept busy in the early morning hours on Friday as the wintry weather created slippery conditions on the roads, and according to weather experts, we’re not in the clear just yet.
-
Driver faces charge and $250 fine after colliding with OPP vehicle
A motorist faces a careless driving charge and $250 fine after a collision involving an OPP vehicle in Caledon.
-
Fatal collision on Highway 48 in Sutton under investigation
Provincial police are at the scene of a fatal collision in Sutton, north of Baldwin, on Friday.
Winnipeg
-
Manitoba RCMP looking to identify vehicle connected to double homicide
The Manitoba RCMP is looking for help to identify a vehicle connected to a double homicide in Portage la Prairie on Sunday.
-
Victim, suspect identified in fatal Winnipeg stabbing
The Winnipeg Police Service has identified the victim and suspect in a fatal stabbing earlier in the week.
-
'In the dark': Surrounding community speaking out on proposed supervised consumption site
It was revealed on Wednesday that the proposed location of a supervised consumption site has been set for the Disraeli Freeway, and now members in the surrounding community are speaking out.
Calgary
-
Unemployment in Alberta remains steady, Edmonton's jobless rate still high
Edmonton's unemployment rate is among the highest in the country, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
-
Gas leak prompts emergency response in Sundance
A street in Sundance has been shut down Friday morning as first responders are investigating a natural gas leak.
-
Jasper family reunites with cat missing 100 days in the wilderness
Nicole Klopfenstein's four-year-old black and white tabby survived in the wilderness for more than 100 days after a ferocious wildfire forced the evacuation of the Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, Alta., this summer.
Edmonton
-
Security guard killed at Edmonton apartment building
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a security guard in central Edmonton on Friday morning.
-
Edmonton rec centre locked down after object shatters window: city
The Clareview Recreation Centre was briefly closed to the public on Thursday night.
-
City of Edmonton offers tips to reduce waste during holiday season
With the holiday season in full swing, it's easy to forget how shopping can affect not only our wallets, but the amount of waste going to landfills.
Regina
-
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
-
Regina police investigate homicide after woman dies in hospital from gunshot wounds
Regina police are investigating the city’s fifth homicide of the year after a woman died from apparent gunshot wounds.
-
Here are the winners of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation's grand prize draws
The Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) announced their grand prize lottery winners on Thursday night.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts
A Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts.
-
Are other cities better at clearing snow than Saskatoon?
One of the noticeable changes during Saskatoon’s 2025 budget deliberations at city hall this past week was an increase to the snow and ice budget.
-
Sask. school bus driver arrested for impaired driving after transporting 50 kids
A Saskatchewan school bus driver, who was transporting 50 children shortly before his arrest, is facing impaired driving related charges.
Vancouver
-
Avalanche risk expected to rise in parts of B.C. this weekend
The British Columbia government is encouraging people to do their research on avalanche risk before heading into the backcountry, as forecasts show danger ratings are expected to increase in some areas over the weekend.
-
VPD release new photos of suspect wanted in teenage girl's assault
The Vancouver Police Department is requesting the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in the assault of a 16-year-old girl earlier this year.
-
Environment Canada issues rainfall, snowfall warnings for parts of B.C.
Environment Canada says heavy rain and snow will hit separate regions of British Columbia on Friday, promising to make travel difficult for many this weekend.
Vancouver Island
-
Environment Canada issues rainfall, snowfall warnings for parts of B.C.
Environment Canada says heavy rain and snow will hit separate regions of British Columbia on Friday, promising to make travel difficult for many this weekend.
-
Taylor Swift to play first Vancouver show tonight
It’s been a long time coming, but Taylor Swift’s first show in Vancouver has finally arrived.
-
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim admits to being 'orange pilled' in Bitcoin interview
Bitcoin is soaring to all-time highs, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants the city to get in on the action.
Kelowna
-
Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas
A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas.
-
Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026
The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.
-
545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down
Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day.
