The newest resident in Ottawa's Elmvale Acres neighbourhood is an 18-foot snowman

Luc Guertin built Waldo, the 18-foot snowman, in front of his Elmvale Acres home. (Jackie Perez/CTV News Ottawa)

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'My little love is now flying high': Families pay tribute to Texas school shooting victims

Families are sharing photos and stories of their loved ones, who lost their lives in a mass shooting in Texas that killed at least 19 children and two adults on Tuesday afternoon.

Onlookers urged police to charge into Texas school

Onlookers urged police officers to charge into the Texas elementary school where a gunman's rampage killed 19 children and two teachers, a witness said Wednesday, as investigators worked to track the massacre that lasted upwards of 40 minutes and ended when the 18-year-old shooter was killed by a Border Patrol team.

As it happened: The 2022 French-language Conservative leadership debate

The Conservative Party of Canada leadership hopefuls debated face-to-face in French, in Laval, Que. on May 25. Recap CTV News reporters' real-time updates as the debate unfolded.

Beto O'Rourke confronts Gov. Abbott on shooting: 'This is on you'

A news conference about the shooting at a Texas elementary school broke into shouting Wednesday as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke blamed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott for inaction ahead of the latest in a long string of mass shootings in the state.

Trudeau cancelled B.C. appearance after RCMP warned protest could escalate: CP source

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled plans to appear in person at a Liberal fundraiser in British Columbia Tuesday after RCMP warned an aggressive protest outside the event could escalate if he arrived, said a source close to the decision. The source spoke to The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

'That's not acceptable': Families of N.S. shooting victims, lawyers boycott inquiry in protest

As the inquiry into Nova Scotia’s mass shooting moves its public proceedings to Truro, many of the family members affected by the tragedy and their lawyers are boycotting the proceedings over the next week.
Murphy’s Logic: The mass shooting inquiry should put facts over feelings

Former Chief Anchor Steve Murphy offers a timely perspective on the Mass Casualty Commission and the difference 30 years after the Westray inquiry.
Control issues: Stark differences between U.S. and Canadian gun laws

Speaking off-script at an event in Halifax Wednesday morning, Canada's Minister of Public Safety said he was gutted by the latest mass shooting south of the border - the 27th in a school this year alone.

Toronto

Was your home damaged by the Ontario storm? Insurance companies say payouts could take weeks to process

The insurance industry says it could take up to six weeks to get an idea of how many hundreds of millions of dollars in pay outs will be required from the weekend storm that brought death and destruction to Ontario and Quebec, but that early estimates are substantial.
Ontario police release wild video showing stunt driver going 200 km/h on highway shoulder

Police have released new video of a recent incident in which a vehicle was caught doing doughnuts and speeding along the shoulder of busy Ontario roadways.
'The opportunities are endless': These are the tools Ontarians are using to make some extra cash

People all across Ontario are getting creative when it comes to netting a secondary income, otherwise known as a “side hustle,” and many are turning to secondhand economies thriving on online platforms.

Montreal

Legault to Trudeau after Bill 96 criticism: 'Have a bit of respect for the majority of Quebecers'

Quebec politicians were not pleased with the federal Liberals' comments on Bill 96 and Bill 21, firing back with a slew of protests and even raising sovereignty as the solution.
Quebec to provide update on monkeypox outbreak as province confirms 16 cases

Quebec's public health department is set to give its first press conference on the growing monkeypox outbreak as the province recorded its 16th confirmed case Wednesday.
Bill 96: some Conservative leadership hopefuls say yes, others say no to Quebec language reform

Several of the six aspiring Conservative leaders expressed their opposition to Bill 96 during a French-language debate in Laval on Wednesday night, but others shied away from the opportunity to express their views on the issue.

Northern Ontario

Statues replaced at Sudbury shrine after vandalism in 2020

There are currently a dozen statues at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes property, and all are from the 1950s.
North Bay’s outdoor Farmers’ Market open for summer season

It’s a sign that summer is on the horizon. Farmers’ markets are opening in cities and towns across the north.
Big names running to represent Algoma-Manitoulin

Health care appears to be one of the bigger issues for voters along the North Shore as they get set to cast ballots in Algoma-Manitoulin.

London

Three Londoners charged after vehicle strikes police cruiser

Two men and one woman are facing charges Wednesday after police say their vehicle struck a London police cruiser and then the suspects fled the scene on foot over the weekend.
Fatal crash near Wardsville, Ont.

OPP and Southwest Middlesex fire are on the scene of a fatal collision Wednesday afternoon involving a tanker truck and a passenger vehicle.
'Extremely disappointing, extremely frustrating': Pride flags stolen, defaced in Norwich

Jeff Ducharme was in his home office when a young man in a truck pulled up, ran up to the front of his home in Norwich, Ont. and stole his pride flag in broad daylight.

Winnipeg

'We will take action': Manitoba not ruling out military help as emergency rooms overflow

The Manitoba Government could turn to the military for help as it struggles with staffing shortages, overcrowding, and in some cases, temporary closures of emergency rooms.
Manitoba government says proposed changes will make liquor sales more convenient

The Manitoba government is hinting it may allow more alcohol sales through private channels to boost customer convenience.
Pole knocked down on St. Anne's Road leads to power outage: Manitoba Hydro

Hundreds of residents in River Park South were left without power Wednesday evening after a pole was knocked down on St. Anne's Road.

Kitchener

Falling tree that killed Brantford woman was close miss for several others

New details are emerging about the tragic incident that killed 27-year-old Shelby Humble-Neale on Saturday.
Kitchener neighbours shocked to learn they heard gunshots amid Victoria Day fireworks

Waterloo regional police say evidence of gunfire found in McLennan Park in Kitchener is connected to another shooting incident in the nearby area of Windflower Drive and Windflower Crescent.
Two seriously injured, one airlifted after crash in Baden, Ont.

Two 29-year-old men have been seriously injured following a collision in Baden, Ont., with one needing to be airlifted to a hospital outside the region.

Calgary

Calgary retains commercial real estate team to revive new arena

The City of Calgary has recruited three people from the commercial real-estate sector in an effort to get a new event centre to replace the aging Scotiabank Saddledome.
Texas shooting aftermath: Attention turns to Calgary school safety, youth mental health support

After a massacre at a Texas elementary school, some are looking into safety protections against gun violence in Calgary's school system while mental health experts are offering advice for difficult conversations about mass shootings.
Calgary property taxes are in the mail, due by June 30

Those who haven't receive their bill by the first week of June are asked to contact 311.

Saskatoon

Trudeau thanks Sask. COVID-19 researchers 'on behalf of 38 million Canadians'

The Prime Minister toured the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, which is working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Saskatoon police say use of new, dangerous opioid difficult to track

Saskatoon Police Service says that the use and presence of potent new synthetic opioids known as nitazenes are difficult to track and monitor.
Semi-truck driver killed in rollover near Meadow Lake

A 48-year-old semi-truck driver was killed in in a rollover near Meadow Lake on Tuesday.

Edmonton

'Still can't believe it': 1st period proposal makes Game 4 victory that much sweeter for Oilers fan

Even though they cheer for opposite teams, a proposal by a Flames fan at Game 4 of the Battle of Alberta received a resounding "yes" from the Oilers-loving bride to be.
Body of missing Fort McMurray canoer found

The body of a missing canoer has been located in northeast Alberta.
School resource officers make students feel safer, new report finds

Edmonton’s School Resource Officer Program has received a passing grade in a new report that was presented to Catholic School Trustees on Wednesday.

Vancouver

Vancouver police use Taser on suicidal man, give each other fist bumps in social media video

A social media video that captures the moment a man gets Tasered by a Vancouver police officer is prompting calls for more training for police going out mental health calls.
Marijuana company's email mistake allows shareholder to forward fraud allegations

A judge has refused to grant a B.C. cannabis company an injunction against a man who used a list of email addresses the company accidentally sent to all shareholders against it.
Legal scholar says Canada 'absolutely' exists on stolen Indigenous land despite Trudeau sidestepping question

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not provide a clear answer when asked Monday if he believes Canada exists on stolen Indigenous land – but a legal scholar says the answer is obvious.

Regina

'All it takes is one': Sask. RCMP partner with Washington police to publicize disappearance of Mekayla Bali

Saskatchewan RCMP and the Washington State Patrol announced a collaboration of efforts to locate Mekayla Bali, who was 16-years-old when she was last on April 12, 2016 in Yorkton.
'Deaf Shame to Deaf Same': Art exhibit aims to destigmatize hearing loss

A new art exhibit at the George Bothwell Library is hoping to examine and remove the feeling of shame associated with people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
'Brings things to a halt': Manitoba's Duck Mountain sees May Long standstill

For those looking to hop the border into Manitoba for their camping seasons, it started off on the wrong foot for Duck Mountain Provincial Park.