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Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
14-year-old boy charged with first-degree murder in random Pickering stabbing
The 14-year-old suspect in Thursday's fatal stabbing in Pickering has been charged with first-degree murder, a court heard Friday morning. The incident spurred a massive local manhunt and a shelter-in-place warning for residents. Around 3 p.m. on Lynn Heights Drive, the elderly victim was in front of her home when a male approached and stabbed her repeatedly, police said. A passerby found her and she was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. The suspect was arrested 'without incident' after what investigators called an 'extensive search' around 8:30 p.m., officials said in a news release late Friday morning. Acting staff Sgt. Joanne McCabe told media at the scene on Friday morning that police are looking into reports from residents that the suspect was prowling homes in the area in the weeks leading up to the incident. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'This is something that I think ... is going to impact this community for a very long time,' McCabe told reporters at the scene. The attack appears to be random, noting that the boy and the victim had brief chat before she was fatally stabbed, McCabe said. 'What that conversation was will also be part of the investigation,' she said. Gta Pickering stabbing: Mayor shocked by 'so much hate' after 13-year-old boy is arrested in Durham homicide Arrest of boy Thursday evening ends an intense police search following the death of a Pickering On Thursday evening at the scene, Durham police Chief Peter Moreira called the incident a 'sadistic and cowardly, unprovoked attack that was captured on video.' 'I worked in homicide for a long time, and I can tell you that an unprovoked attack like this is just unimaginable.' Moreira declined to comment further on the details of the arrest, saying the investigation is still in its early stages. Police have not publicly stated whether there was a relationship between the victim and suspect, adding the victim's name is being withheld at her family's request. The suspect's identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The apparently random nature of the fatal stabbing pushed Durham officers to take 'unusual steps,' Moreira added, including deploying the OPP Alert Ready service. Although the shelter-in-place was only intended for the people in the immediate area, the alert was received on cellphones elsewhere in the GTA. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW McCabe said on Friday investigative work is done before emergency alerts are deployed, and police 'understand the fear that they may cause.' 'We don't release them lightly,' she added. Durham Regional Police investigate a murder near the intersection of Fairport and Lynn Heights in Pickering. Steve Russell/ Toronto Star The city of Pickering cancelled all evening activities and classes in the wake of the attack, but after the suspect was arrested, locals were told they could go back to their activities. 'I'm shocked that a person so young has so much hate in them,' Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe told reporters at the scene Thursday. Ashe added the boy was affected by the 'burden of mental health.' Police previously reported the suspect was 13 years old. More to come
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
A shocking homicide investigation + Inside Prime Minister Mark Carney's rise to leadership
Good morning. This is the Friday, May 30 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox. Here's the latest on the arrest of a 13-year-old boy following a homicide in Durham and part two of a Star exclusive series reviewing Mark Carney's unexpected rise to leadership. Also, raging wildfires in Manitoba have made their way to Saskatchewan. Here's what we know. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW DON'T MISS Police arrested a 13-year-old boy after investigating a Durham homicide The arrest followed a manhunt and request to shelter in place. Here's what we know. 'We pray for all involved,' family of Mario Bilich says as judge finds accused triple murderer mentally unfit to stand trial A secret confession, chartered flights and strip searches: Behind the scenes of the girls-swarming saga after the killing of Kenneth Lee Mark Carney was already 'Mr. Business' when Trump upended the race With Carney as the front-runner, the Conservatives shifted their message. Here's what happened next. Inside the 2025 election: How Mark Carney resurrected the Liberal party with Pierre Poilievre's help The Star named Toronto's top influencers of 2025 These GTA creators are a representation of Toronto's culture. Find out who made the list. The making of a list: Behind the scenes of the Toronto Star's top 24 influencers of 2024 Toronto's Top 24 of 2024 WHAT ELSE Darrell Brown announces the five inductees into the CNE's inaugural food hall of fame in August 2024. Richard Lautens/ Toronto Star File Photo CNE fired its CEO and his wife. They call the harassment allegations against them 'unjust.' One of the girls in the swarming case will learn whether she is guilty of murder this afternoon. Here's what we know. Small businesses have been scrambling for alternatives during the Canada Post chaos. Here's what they've found. Experts predict big challenges for this Chinese billionaire to execute her plan for 28 Hudson's Bay leases. Here's why. A 'secret' memo revealed how Canada's refusal to join this missile system in 2005 hurt its reputation. Andrew Phillips: Trump's attacks on Canada won't stop. Here's how to avoid his traps. The Star's Ottawa bureau broke down the start of Carney's first term as an elected prime minister. Listen here. This Toronto Grammy-nominated musician opened a sandwich shop. Take a look at what they're serving. Gregor Chisholm: How the Blue Jays rotation plays with fire but rarely gets burned. Doug Smith: Here's why Collin Murray-Boyles gets compared to Draymond Green but is a risk for Toronto. POV Toronto's old-fashioned — but effective — way to ease traffic jams has one serious flaw. CLOSE UP Edmonton Oilers pose for photos after winning Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dallas. Julio Cortez/AP DALLAS: The Edmonton Oilers will advance to the NHL Stanley Cup finals after a 6-3 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars. Here's how it all went down. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
This mouthwatering $12 sandwich is the best thing I ate in Toronto this week
WHERE I ATE THIS WEEK A $15 three-course pasta lunch in North York, an incredible $13 muffuletta in Etobicoke, and $2 buttery Uzbek samsas in Scarborough — each week, food reporter Karon Liu travels the GTA to bring you a trusted and affordable recommendation on what to eat while exploring the city. Bangers and Mash Sando, $12, from Hot Pork at 932 Dundas St. W. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. Gta 4 of the best bakeries in Toronto for classic old-school doughnuts Skip the candy bar toppings and bacon bits — these Toronto spots are serving doughnuts the old-fashioned way. THE DISH This delightfully messy sandwich starts with a four-ounce Irish banger patty made from Ontario pork, breadcrumbs and aromatics like allspice, mace, ginger and cloves. It's paired with a square of seared mashed potatoes — yes, an actual slab of creamy mash with a golden crust — plus caramelized onions and gravy made from smoked brisket drippings (add a double patty for $4). It's a saucy sandwich best eaten on the spot, especially when the mashed potatoes' delicate crust gives way and buttery, silky spud and gravy land on your fingers (there's a washroom downstairs). The potatoes bring butteriness, the onions a bittersweet smokiness, and the patty a gentle spice. Grab one while it's still on the menu — it's only around for another month before a lighter, warm-weather option takes its place. THE OWNER Hot Pork owner Michael Synowicki. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Toronto is in the midst of a breakfast-sandwich boom, and Hot Pork — which opened in early 2024 — is part of the new crop. Before launching the shop, owner Michael Synowicki cooked at hotels like the King Edward and the Toronto Marriott. Like many hotel chefs, when the pandemic hit he lost his job and had to pivot. Synowicki began making sausages, using equipment and recipes from his father's long-shuttered midtown gourmet food shop from the '70s. He supplied restaurants and grocers, popping up at the Junction Farmers' Market (he's still there every Saturday), and his popularity grew enough that he opened a storefront. ALSO ON THE MENU Bangers and Mash Sando with a side kale Ceasar salad. Karon Liu/ Toronto Star Pair your sandwich with the kale Caesar salad ($8 for a small size, $16 for large): shredded kale tossed with a garlicky house-made dressing, lots of Parmesan, sourdough croutons from Lev Bakery, crispy smoked pork belly and ground fried chicken sprinkled on top. For non-meat options, there's a fried eggplant caprese sandwich, $13, a double egg breakfast sandwich, $8, and an egg caprese sandwich, $12. There's also a grocery counter of house-made pickled carrots, beets and onions, cured salmon, sausages and beef tallow. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Gta Our food reporter's top picks for meals under $15 in Toronto From prix-fixe lunches to hearty sandwiches, here are four places in Toronto where you can get EXPLORE THE AREA Hot Pork is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., ideal for early risers that want to beat the brunch crowd in Trinity Bellwoods. The place is also right at the northeast corner of the park if you want to eat the sandwich al fresco. Right next door to Hot Pork is the charming indie horror book store Little Ghosts (930 Dundas St. W.) and Ella's Uncle café (916 Dundas St. W.) is just a few minutes away. Continue the sandwich crawl by heading to Lambo's Deli (176 Bellwoods Ave.) for Italian-style subs at lunchtime. This is the Thursday, May 22 edition of Food Crawl, the Star's weekly food newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
There's a hidden pattern behind Toronto's awful congestion problem. We need to find it before we can fix it
Torontonians waste an average of 142 hours annually sitting in traffic, costing the region an estimated $6 billion in lost productivity each year. Beyond the economic impact, this congestion contributes significantly to our carbon footprint and diminishes our quality of life. Will building new lanes above and below Highway 401 solve our traffic congestion problems? Is now the right time to close a lane on the Gardiner Expressway for construction? Should we build more bike lanes or remove the ones already installed? When the Eglinton Crosstown LRT finally opens, and the Ontario Line after that, will congestion improve? Is congestion charging the answer? Is building a tunnel under Highway 401 the best way to help reduce traffic congestion? R.J. Johnston Toronto Star To answer these questions, we must first recognize that transportation data is inherently spatial — it is geographical information about where and when movement occurs. Traditional data analysis struggles with these kinds of questions because it treats this rich spatial data as entries in a spreadsheet, stripping away critical real-world context. The solution is clear: we need a geographic approach, a way of understanding and solving real-world problems by making sense of data through the lens of location. This approach is enabled by geographic information system (GIS) technology. For example, Santa Clara County, which is just south of San Francisco, used GIS to analyze millions of vehicles turning movements per day and optimize signal timing, eliminating 18,000 unnecessary stops per day. GIS technology has already been widely adopted in more than 20 industries and numerous government departments, from emergency services to urban planning. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW While GIS has been successfully applied to many municipal issues, its full potential for addressing traffic congestion, specifically, is a significant opportunity for many cities, including Toronto. Traffic congestion is fundamentally a supply and demand problem: too many vehicles competing for limited road space. Building more roads seems logical, but induced demand complicates this approach. There are countless residents who don't currently drive but would choose to if roads were less congested. How many people? What is the ideal number of new roads to build? Traditional analyses have failed to provide clear answers. GIS reveals otherwise invisible patterns by visualizing layers of data as maps, allowing planners to see, analyze and determine true correlations between cause and effect. For example, GIS analysis in Barcelona revealed that 60 per cent of congestion occurred at just 15 per cent of intersections, leading to targeted improvements rather than broad, expensive solutions. Toronto's transportation planners, city council and provincial authorities are already making significant strides through the recently updated Toronto Congestion Management Plan and various technology innovation pilots. These forward-thinking initiatives demonstrate the city's commitment to addressing traffic challenges, but their impact remains uncertain. By further incorporating geographical approaches into transportation planning, the city can complement these existing efforts with additional evidence-driven insights. GIS-based analysis would work alongside current programs to provide deeper spatial understanding of traffic patterns, helping to optimize infrastructure investments and enhance data-backed strategies. Without precise spatial analysis, we're essentially guessing.
Global News
4 days ago
- General
- Global News
Efforts to limit population of invasive ‘vampire fish' in Canada's Great Lakes underway
Action is finally being taken against an aggressive invasive species that has been surging across the Great Lakes in Ontario. The spike in sea lampreys has triggered a joint campaign between Canada and the U.S. to protect the region's $5.1-billion freshwater fishery. The work began in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and will likely continue till October. Some of the population control methods include lampricides (a chemical treatment), traps and barriers. Story continues below advertisement Sea lampreys, also known as vampire fish, were accidentally introduced through shipping canals into the Great Lakes in 1921. They use their mouths with 150 teeth and serrated tongues to attach to prey, killing up to 40 pounds of fish during their parasitic stage. 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 Before sea lamprey control, the species killed far more fish than humans did, causing considerable economic and ecological damage. View image in full screen The mouth of a Sea Lamprey features 150 teeth and a tongue that is cerated. Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images A new study confirms that lamprey numbers rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021 forced crews to pause treatments and millions of lamprey larvae survived as a result. Ethan Baker, chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, said the rise was expected. 'Ongoing, consistent sea lamprey control is critically important for preventing damage to Great Lakes fish by invasive sea lampreys,' Baker said in an April 10 news release. Story continues below advertisement 'Research shows that sea lamprey control must continue each year to keep populations of this harmful invasive species in check.' In 2024, adult sea lamprey counts were 8,619 above pre-COVID-19 averages. Lake Superior and Lake Ontario saw the biggest increases. Numbers in lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie are starting to stabilize. 'If we take our foot off the gas, even for a short while, sea lamprey populations will increase rapidly and cause considerable damage to fish,' Baker said. Control efforts have since resumed, but scientists and officials warn that the damage done during the pause will take years to reverse. 'Sea lamprey control is critical to safeguard the prosperity of the region,' Baker said.
