What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: March 24-26

Ottawa Top Stories

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike

The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.

Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Woman who accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 defects to Russia

A former staffer who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault has defected to Moscow and spoken to Russian state media in a news conference that lasted several hours.

'Get out or be in the fire': Nova Scotians detail the moments when they fled their homes

Wildfires in Nova Scotia have burned thousands of hectares across the province, forcing many to flee their homes. Halifax-area residents tell CTV News what it was like for them when they had to evacuate.

Toronto blogger warns of 'seismic shift' in SEO amid AI advancements

As text-generative artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT change the tide of web surfing, one Toronto blogger warns of a “seismic shift” in search engine optimization.

WATCH

WATCH | Falling weaponry narrowly misses moving car on Kyiv road

A dashcam caught the moment falling debris from a missile nearly hit a moving vehicle on a Kyiv road on Monday.

'This is going to be a prolonged operation': Halifax-area wildfire grows to 837 hectares

Officials say the wildfire burning in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area has grown to 837 hectares.

Personality changes, confusion could be key signs your liver is failing

Imagine being struck with a sudden onset of confusion, struggling to think of words or to recognize your surroundings — and even ending up in the emergency department because of it. No, this isn’t a description of dementia, but of a common complication that can arise from serious liver disease.

Who are the bride and groom in Jordan's royal wedding?

He's heir to the throne in one of the oldest monarchies in the Middle East and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. She's a Saudi architect with an aristocratic pedigree of her own.

Quebec firm to pay $10M to avoid charges over bribes promised to Philippine officials

A Quebec forensics company promised millions of dollars in bribes to officials in the Philippines, including a cabinet minister and his brother, as it sought lucrative police contracts, according to a statement of facts attached to a deal the firm struck to avoid prosecution in Canada.

Atlantic

'This is going to be a prolonged operation': Halifax-area wildfire grows to 837 hectares

Officials say the wildfire burning in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area has grown to 837 hectares.
'For God's sake, stop burning': N.S. premier bans all activity in forests, urges residents to abide by burn ban

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has banned all activity in forests as of Tuesday, and says the wildfire damage is “extensive” and “heartbreaking.”
Shelburne County wildfire still out of control as schools close, thousands evacuate

An out-of-control wildfire in Nova Scotia’s Shelburne County has forced officials to close all public schools in the area.

Toronto

BREAKING
BREAKING | 4 women, 1 man charged in Ontario human trafficking case involving 13 victims

Four women and one man have been charged in connection with year-long human trafficking investigation in Mississauga that police say involved 13 victims who 'came to Canada for a better life' but were instead coerced into working in the sex trade.
Ontario bill giving cities power to expand boundaries for housing passes

The Ontario government has passed a bill giving cities the power to expand their borders “at any time” in order to build more homes.
'Mortifying': Toronto woman says restaurant shamed her for ordering too much food

A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.

Montreal

Stay hydrated! Record-breaking heat in Montreal this week

High heat is pushing into parts of Quebec this week, and many communities could see record-breaking temperatures this week. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements, advising people of the above-average temperatures.
'Worst pain I've felt:' New Shriners' approach to treating children's sports injuries aims to get young athletes moving again

A new team working out of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada (SHC-Canada) wants to get young people like Horn, who injured themselves, back on their feet and running as fast and efficiently as possible.
5 changes in Quebec's Bill 96 that come into effect June 1

Last year, Quebec’s Bill 96 became law, which brought sweeping changes to the Charter of the French language. Sections of the new law will come into effect on June 1, the one-year anniversary of the bill receiving royal assent.

Northern Ontario

Main artery in North Bay closed after early morning trailer fire

A large transport truck carrying 4,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals caught on fire in North Bay around 2:30 a.m., fire officials say.
'We are stuck here': Saskatoon woman says she can't sell home due to nearby shelter

A Saskatoon homeowner says her proximity to a homeless shelter is the reason her house wouldn’t sell.
Body of 12-year-old Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls found

The body of a Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls on Saturday has been found following a desperate underwater search that lasted more than a day.

London

Overhaul of school boundaries recommended by TVDSB

The final report of Thames Valley District School Board’s largest attendance review in decades has been given final recommendations by the board.
'Killing or injuring animal' charge for St. Thomas man already facing attempted murder charge

A St. Thomas, Ont. man charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a 24-year-old woman, is now facing an additional charge.
Man suffers serious injury in possible moving mishap

Officers were called to Maitland and Grey streets at 8 a.m. where witnesses said a male was found suffering from a suspected foot injury.

Winnipeg

Storm brought funnel cloud, dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba

A thunderstorm on Tuesday brought heavy rain, a funnel cloud and dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba on Tuesday.
Priest charged in alleged sexual assault of 8-year-old girl on Manitoba First Nation

Manitoba RCMP have arrested a priest from a First Nation community who is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, and believe there may be more victims.
Mayor wants ring of 24/7 shelters around Downtown Winnipeg

Winnipeg's mayor is proposing a plan to create a ring of 24/7 shelters around downtown Winnipeg which he says will help get those experiencing homelessness out of bus shelters and into safe spaces.

Kitchener

Car crashes through three Kitchener backyards

Three people were taken to hospital after the car they were in careened off the road and smashed through three backyards on Ralgreen Crescent in Kitchener.
Crash takes out part of pedestrian overpass in downtown Kitchener

Police have closed a section of Charles Street in downtown Kitchener where it appears a garbage truck took out part of an overhead pedestrian bridge.
School bus driver killed in crash near Woodstock, Ont. remembered as 'a phenomenal man'

Elementary students are among those mourning the loss of a school bus driver killed in a double fatal crash near Woodstock, Ont.

Calgary

2 homes damaged in early morning fire in southeast Calgary

Officials say an early morning fire in southeast Calgary is under control, but two homes were damaged.
Kevin J. Johnston sentenced in Delburne, Alta., COVID protest

Former Calgary mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston was back in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on Friday, May 26 to answer to charges stemming from a protest in Delburne in April 2021.
Vehicle crashes through window of southern Alberta town's library

Didsbury RCMP says a worker at the community's library were hurt when a vehicle crashed through its front window on Monday.

Saskatoon

'It was a rite of passage': Sask. group comes together to save a nostalgic drive-in theatre

One of Saskatchewan’s last remaining drive-in movie theatres will be opening this season after months of uncertainty.
Warman dad left shaken after alleged abduction attempt

A Warman father was left shaken after his daughter informed him of an apparent abduction attempt.
'We are stuck here': Saskatoon woman says she can't sell home due to nearby shelter

A Saskatoon homeowner says her proximity to a homeless shelter is the reason her house wouldn’t sell.

Edmonton

Evacuations by plane and boat underway in Fort Chipewyan due to growing wildfire

A new wildfire in northern Alberta has become the province's priority as firefighters battle dozens of wildfires across Alberta.
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike

The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
This MLA-elect is the first Black woman to be elected to the Alberta Legislature

On Monday, Rhiannon Hoyle was elected to the riding of Edmonton-South, making her the first Black woman elected to the Alberta Legislature.

Vancouver

Putting Surrey Memorial Hospital's ER on diversion may be the only 'responsible recourse,' staff letter says

Frontline health-care workers at Surrey Memorial Hospital say the emergency room should be shut down to new patients if staff shortages continue to create "perilous" conditions for people in need of urgent care.
'Get out or be in the fire': Nova Scotians detail the moments when they fled their homes

Wildfires in Nova Scotia have burned thousands of hectares across the province, forcing many to flee their homes. Halifax-area residents tell CTV News what it was like for them when they had to evacuate.
B.C. teachers facing 'unsustainable' pressures due to staff shortages, union says

A "critical" shortage of teachers in B.C. is leading to increased workloads, mounting stress and an inability to meet students' needs, according to a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the union.

Regina

Construction resumes at Regina airport following worker's death

Work is slowly getting back underway following an incident that left a construction worker dead at Regina International Airport.
Increased police presence in west-central Swift Current expected

Swift Current RCMP says there will be an increased police presence in the city's west-central area.
Tornado surveyors search for damage following first confirmed twister of 2023 in Sask.

Contrary to popular belief, a tornado can’t be rated by the way it looks, rather by the destruction it leaves behind.

What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: March 24-26

What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: March 24-26

WEATHER | The hottest days of 2023 (so far) in the forecast for Ottawa

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

WATCH | Falling weaponry narrowly misses moving car on Kyiv road

BREAKING | 4 women, 1 man charged in Ontario human trafficking case involving 13 victims