Laptops damaged and kids burned: A Toronto school board warns of ‘dangerous' social media challenges
On Friday, the board notified parents about the Paperclip, Chromebook and Senior Assassin challenges that are popular among teens and trending across Ontario schools. Kids make videos participating in the challenges, post them online, and encourage others to follow suit — and that has officials sounding the alarm.
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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suspected Islamist rebels kill 30 in Congo's North Kivu province
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Suspected Islamist rebels have killed at least 30 people in a series of attacks in Congo's North Kivu province in recent days, a Congolese military official said Saturday. The killings took place in Bapere village between Wednesday and Friday, according to Col. Alain Kiwawa, the military administrator of Lubero territory where the village is located. 'We have more than 30 people dead, and at least a hundred who are being held hostage,' Kiwawa told The Associated Press. A civil society leader, Samuel Kaheni, the president of the Bapere civil society organization, added that several houses were burned and victims were mostly killed with knives. The attacks are the latest in a string of recent attacks by Islamic State-aligned Allied Democratic Force (ADF) after its members killed nearly 40 people last month in an attack on a Catholic church in Ituri. Most of the victims were killed with machetes. The ADF, with roots in neighboring Uganda, operates in the border villages between Uganda and Congo. Both countries have launched a joint armed operation against the group, but the group has only increased its attacks in recent months. The incidence of ADF attacks adds to the complicated security challenges in the eastern region of Congo, where dozens of other armed groups are fighting, and the central government is battling the M23 rebels, which have taken control of Goma and other key cities. Lubero's military administrator called on the residents to be on guard against further violence. 'I ask the population to speak out and remain vigilant,' he said.
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
These 5 Ontario school boards recorded the most violent incidents. Will police help?
The number of violent incidents reported in Ontario's schools grew last year to a point that critics call a 'crisis,' with a third of all recorded violence concentrated in just five school boards. New data, obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws, shows the number of violent incidents in Ontario classrooms has shot up by almost 80 per cent over the past seven years. In 2023-24, the most recent year available, a total of 4,424 incidents were reported, and 1,497 of those were reported in just five boards. An analysis of the data by Global News show four of the boards with the most violent incidents reported were in or near Toronto, with the fifth located in Ottawa. The school board with the highest number of violent incidents in the province was the Peel District School Board. Story continues below advertisement Last year, Peel recorded 431 violent incidents, a drop from the 717 it recorded the year before. At the beginning of the pandemic, in the 2019-20 year, the Peel District School Board recorded an even higher rate of violence, with 976 incidents. The Toronto District School Board, which is the largest board in the entire country, reported the second-highest number of violent incidents in 2023-24, with 410. That held relatively steady from the year before, when it reported 407. There were 237,679 students enrolled at the Toronto District School Board in 2023-24, according to ministry data. The Peel District School Board had 148,917 students. Dividing the number of violent incidents by student population gives Toronto a rate of 1.7 violent incidents per 1,000 students. Peel is substantially higher at 4.8 per 1,000. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Third and fifth place were occupied by the two Halton Region school boards. The Halton District School Board reported 237 violent incidents last year, while the Halton Catholic board reported 206. While Toronto and Peel are the largest boards in the province, both Halton boards have substantially smaller student populations. The Halton District board is the ninth largest in Ontario, with 67,186 students. The Catholic board is 18th with a student population of just 36,110. At Halton District, the rate of violent incidents is 3.5 per 1,000 students, compared to 5.7 in the Catholic board. Story continues below advertisement The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board had the fourth most violent incidents last year, with 213. It has 77,325 students, the seventh most in the province, and a rate of 2.8 incidents per 1,000 students. Province offers policing solution A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education acknowledged the growing violence — but suggested the return of police officers to classrooms could be part of the solution. Story continues below advertisement 'The rise in school violence also coincides with the shortsighted decision of many school boards across the province, starting in 2017, to end School Resource Officer programs in schools,' they wrote in a statement. 'This is why our government has introduced measures that will require school boards to work with police services to develop School Resource Officer.' Opposition politicians, however, fear police could make the situation worse — and mask the need for more funding. 'Police are not the answer to the violence crisis,' NDP MPP Chandra Pasma said. 'They're not trained mental health professionals; they do not have training in special education, in re-regulating dysregulated children. They can't provide academic support to a kid who is going unnoticed in a class of 34. So, there's really no role for them to play in helping to prevent the violence occurring in the first place.' Joe Tigani, president of the Ontario School Board Council of Union, said the mention of policing was a distraction. 'Throwing more police into schools won't fix this,' he said in a statement. '(Recent legislation) is nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors distraction. It centralizes control and brings back policies that have already been proven to harm marginalized students. What students need are more education workers in classes to create the conditions that will prevent violent incidents from happening'
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Alleged horny holy roller probed for sex affair, payouts to teenage stripper
Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox Former teen stripper Heather Jones claims she was paid for sex with a Catholic priest when she was 17. And got more money for keeping her mouth shut. HEATHER JONES A Catholic priest is being probed for his alleged longtime sexual affair with a 17-year-old stripper, and boffo payoffs she claims he paid to buy her silence. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Guardian reports that Robert Sullivan, 61, is now on leave as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood, Alabama. Former teen stripper Heather Jones, 33, has publicly accused Sullivan of grooming her when she was a vulnerable youngster. She says the trysts began in 2009. In a letter to the Diocese of Birmingham, Jones claims she first met Sullivan while she was stripping at a club where he was a regular. Disgraced priest Robert Sullivan. Jones said the holy man made her an offer that constituted a mortal sin and tore holes in the Ten Commandments. According to the former peeler, Sullivan offered her a whopping $273,000 to ink a non-disclosure deal in exchange for 'an ongoing relationship that would include financial support in exchange for private companionship.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jones told The Guardian that the deal included sex. Raised in a foster home as a result of her mother's 'severe neglect,' Jones said she was initially hesitant. She 'ultimately agreed' due to the priest's persistence and 'the state (of mind) I was in.' Once the priest and the pole dancer agreed to the deal, Jones alleged she received two wire transfers of $136,500, each under the name of an attorney's office. Jones told The Guardian that when the couple hit the town for shopping, dinner, drinks, and stays at hotels, he posed as a doctor. The relationship only ended earlier this year. In addition, Sullivan bought her a phone and paid for her stint in rehab, a result of depression and addiction. She added that so far this year, she had been paid nearly $120,000. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The onetime stripper says she went public because of Sullivan's work with children and families. 'Others may be vulnerable to the same type of manipulation and exploitation,' Jones said. Sullivan was ordained a priest in 1993 and was previously president of John Carroll High School for six years, according to He announced Aug. 2 that he was taking a personal leave. So far, the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham appears to be warily backing the alleged rogue priest, claiming there isn't enough evidence to warrant a criminal investigation. But Sullivan may have to answer to the heavy hitters in the Vatican. 'While the Alabama Department of Human Resources determined that the allegations did not match the requirements for opening an investigation, a diocese investigation was initiated, again, according to Church law and our diocesan policies and guidelines,' Bishop Steven Raica wrote. 'Our diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator has continued to be in contact with the woman who brought forth the allegations and has provided appropriate support.' bhunter@ Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls World Columnists Toronto & GTA
