Maple Express | September 5, 2026 Two killed in North York single-vehicle crash

1. Two killed in North York single-vehicle crash

Source: CP24

Two people are dead after a single-vehicle crash in North York early Saturday morning. Toronto police said officers responded to the area of Romfield Lane and Finch Avenue West just before 5 a.m.

Duty Insp. Peter Wallace told reporters a 39-year-old man was driving the vehicle with a 42-year-old male passenger when it struck a light pole. Emergency crews began life-saving measures, but both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the impact completely knocked down the traffic light pole and deployed the vehicle's airbags.

"This is a heartbreaking incident, and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased," Wallace said. The intersection remains closed while police investigate. Wallace said it is too early to determine what caused the crash, and the reconstruction unit will determine whether speed was a factor; the posted speed limit in the area is 60 km/h. He also urged drivers, pedestrians and other road users to exercise caution as summer comes to an end.

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2. Toronto fire chief warns lithium-ion battery fires are the city's biggest fire safety risk

Source: CP24

Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are intense, toxic and, according to Toronto's fire chief, pose the greatest public fire safety risk in Canada's largest city. "Since 2022... the city of Toronto has seen well north of a 200 per cent increase in the number of fires involving lithium-ion batteries," said fire Chief Jim Jessop.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in many products, but Jessop says it is e-bikes and e-scooters that are catching fire at an alarming rate, in part because those batteries are not regulated the way cell phone, computer or electric vehicle batteries are. He said these fires are unpredictable and hard to put out, with some batteries restarting 24 to 36 hours after firefighters thought the fire was out.

Jessop says Toronto Fire Services now sends hazardous materials teams to every lithium-ion battery incident, and fire gear exposed to the toxic smoke must be sent for deep cleaning — something he called "unheard of." He has asked the federal government to explore battery standards and the province to consider amendments to the Ontario Fire Code. Jessop noted that 50 years ago a room would take 20 to 25 minutes to be engulfed in flames, but with modern furniture that is now five minutes — and with a lithium-ion battery, people have about 90 seconds to get to safety.

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3. Canadians support Carney government turning down U.S. trade deal: Nanos

Source: CP24

Canadians overwhelmingly support the Carney government's decision to reject a recent trade deal with the U.S., even amid potential economic concerns, according to a new Nanos Research survey conducted for CTV News. The survey also found support for Canada's counter-tariffs, set to take effect Sept. 8, is at an all-time high.

On Aug. 21, trade talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down and Prime Minister Mark Carney ended negotiations and walked away from the deal. The next day, the U.S. imposed 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Canadian products. Ottawa then announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on nearly $28 billion of American imports, effective Sept. 8.

Three in four Canadians (75 per cent) say they support rejecting the deal, with another 10 per cent somewhat supporting it. Four in five Canadians support (59 per cent) or somewhat support (21 per cent) the counter-tariffs, while two-thirds are worried (23 per cent) or somewhat worried (45 per cent) about the personal impact of tariffs. More than three-quarters say they have sought out Canadian products (78 per cent) and avoided U.S. goods and services (77 per cent).

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4. Pedestrian hit by truck in Keelesdale suffers serious injuries

Source: CP24

A female pedestrian has been hit by a truck in Keelesdale, Toronto police say. It happened in the area of Keele Street and Eglinton Avenue West shortly before 2:30 p.m.

Police say the pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the truck remained at the scene, police said.

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5. Driver flees after pedestrian seriously injured on Queen Street West

Source: CP24

A pedestrian is in hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene in Toronto's west end Saturday morning. Police say the collision happened at around 11 a.m. in the area of Queen Street West and Shaw Street.

The driver and vehicle failed to remain at the scene, officials said, and the victim was rushed to hospital in serious condition. As a result, eastbound Queen Street West is closed at Shaw Street while police investigate, and drivers are being asked to consider alternate routes.

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6. Driver flees after motorcycle crash on Gardiner Expressway

Source: CP24

A motorcyclist is in hospital with serious injuries after an early-morning hit-and-run crash on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway. Police say officers responded to the collision near Gardiner Expressway West and Spadina Avenue just before 5 a.m.

Paramedics told CP24 they transported a 35-year-old woman in "serious but stable condition." Police said the driver and vehicle failed to remain at the scene. As a result, three left lanes of the westbound Gardiner Expressway are closed while the investigation continues.

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7. 120-year-old Calgary home and former convent at the centre of rezoning debate

Source: CP24

The future of a historic Calgary estate could be at risk if a developer is allowed to proceed with a proposal to turn the space into multi-residential development. The Sayre Estate, built in 1905, sits on a one-acre lot at 717 Royal Ave S.W. It is the last surviving example of the hillside estates built in the first phase of the Mount Royal neighbourhood, and the city is considering a land use application that would allow up to 20 units.

Neighbour Sander Duncanson, who lives across the street, wants the estate preserved, noting his own house is about 115 years old while the estate is over 120 years old. The proposal suggests buildings up to 18 metres high, about twice the height of an average Mount Royal home.

The estate includes a two-and-a-half storey Tudor-style home made of sandstone and brick, plus a detached coach house. It was originally owned by businessman A.J. Sayre and later served as a convent, hospital and music college for the Ursuline Sisters of Calgary between 1925 and 1979. Heritage Calgary says the proposal goes against the area's heritage guidelines and the West Elbow local area plan, and the city is accepting comments until Sept. 24.

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8. Calgary homeowner gets surprise visit from a family of bobcats

Source: CP24

A Calgary homeowner turned an unexpected visit by a bobcat family into the wildlife photography opportunity of a lifetime. Sandstone resident Janice Anderson said that on Aug. 27, a neighbour tipped her off that a mama bobcat and her five babies were heading her way.

"I grabbed my camera and phone and ran outside," Anderson said, adding that she left her dog inside. In her backyard she found the bobcats very calm — they jumped on her gardening beds, sat for a few seconds, then made their way to the front, where the mother lay down on the lawn.

The bobcats left after a minute or so, but stayed long enough to pose for photos. Anderson, an aspiring wildlife photographer, called the visit "a huge honour."

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9. CBSA seized nearly $14 million in illegal tobacco in August

Source: CP24

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it seized nearly $14 million worth of tobacco products entering Canada illegally in August.

The CBSA says the illegal tobacco trade often supports organized crime.

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10. Cyclist has different view of Toronto after riding through every single street

Source: CP24

A Toronto man has ridden every single street in the city — a five-and-a-half-year journey covering 6,784 kilometres. Dave Laird, a 52-year-old graphic designer and photographer from Leslieville, began the project while training for a 24-hour mountain bike race, and became "immediately addicted" after a friend introduced him to the Wandrer GPS tracker.

On Tuesday, the quiet residential street of Betty Ann Drive in North York became the final piece of his journey. In August alone he rode 554.88 kilometres, and over five-and-a-half years he had no collisions with cars and only two flat tires.

Laird broke his neck and back in seven places in a mountain-biking accident in 2024 and took about six months off cycling. After returning, he saw Toronto differently, discovering beautiful neighbourhoods and ravine trails across the city. He also noted significant gaps in the cycling network, especially in Scarborough, and said he was disappointed by the province's removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street West and other arteries.

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