Maple Express | October 18, 2026 — Four soldiers killed in explosion and fire at Alberta military base

Source: CP24

1. Four soldiers killed, dozens wounded in explosion and fire at Alberta military base

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Oct. 18 that four service members are dead and dozens more are wounded after an explosion caused a "violent, fast-moving fire" at CFB Wainwright in Alberta. He called it "one of the worst tragedies for the forces in Canadian soil in peace time."

The Canadian Armed Forces said the fire broke out in a training area at about 4 p.m. local time Saturday and spread rapidly beyond its boundaries. The Department of National Defence said there are no indications the fire and explosion were a terrorist attack, and the incident remains under investigation. CFB Wainwright is located about 210 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

Carney said he was on his way to Edmonton to be briefed on the latest developments, adding that National Defence is working closely with the Government of Alberta and local authorities. NATO's Military Committee also extended condolences to the families of those who died and wished the injured a full recovery.

2. Ontario mayoral candidate's eldest son critically injured in Wainwright tragedy

Cathy Keane, who is running for mayor of Oro-Medonte, said in a social media post on the morning of Oct. 18 that her family received news overnight that her eldest son is among the military personnel critically injured in the CFB Wainwright tragedy.

Keane said she remains in the mayoral race but will be unable to keep door-knocking for the rest of the campaign because she is heading to Alberta. "As a mother, right now I need to be with my son and family," she wrote.

Barrie South—Innisfil MP John Brassard said nothing else matters this day except the well-being of Canadian Forces members and their families. Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley shared Keane's statement and asked residents to keep her family in their thoughts. Bracebridge mayoral candidate Rick Maloney also said this is a time to come together in support of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families.

3. Ford says Ontario is ready to help as flags lowered to half-mast

Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a statement on the morning of Oct. 18 expressing sympathies to those affected at CFB Wainwright, including Canadian Armed Forces members and first responders, and said the province stands ready to help recovery efforts. "As Canadians, let's come together to support our brave men and women in uniform, who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and our country," he wrote.

Ford later said flags will be flown at half-mast at all Ontario government buildings and establishments in response to the tragedy. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said flags at Toronto City Hall and civic centres will also be lowered, offering condolences to the families of those killed and thanking emergency crews and community members.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles issued a statement the same day, saying she cannot imagine the weight of the news for families with loved ones in the service. "Canadians stand with you," she said, while thanking first responders and health-care workers treating the injured.

4. Bradford pledges earlier subway start on marathon day; Chow campaign fires back

Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford announced on Oct. 18 that if elected he would open the subway two hours earlier, at 6 a.m., on the day of the Waterfront Marathon. More than 31,000 runners from over 75 countries took part this year, with the race starting at 8 a.m. — the same time regular Sunday subway service begins.

Bradford said Toronto needs to do a better job coordinating major events with major road closures, arguing runners are encouraged to take transit but the mayor has not made sure it is actually running when they come into the core. He called a 6 a.m. start "common sense," noting the TTC has adjusted hours for the 2015 Pan Am Games and on New Year's Eve, and that the city faced widespread criticism in 2025 for not extending service when Game 7 of the World Series went to extra innings.

Chow's campaign said Bradford cut TTC service and raised fares and that people cannot trust his record on public transit, while Chow will work with communities, event organizers and commuters to improve service. The campaign pointed to her congestion plan, including expanded smart traffic signals, better coordination around construction and major events, more traffic agents, a three-year freeze on TTC fares and a fare-capping system that makes rides free after 10 trips a week. Torontonians vote on Oct. 26.

5. Large watermain break snarls traffic in North York

A large watermain break slowed traffic near a busy North York intersection early on Oct. 18, after a pipe broke along Sheppard Avenue East at Leslie Street, in front of the entrance to Leslie TTC Station.

City spokesperson Jas Baweja said emergency crews attended to make the area safe, assess the damage and complete repairs safely and as quickly as possible. Customers from Ambrose to Provost roads, west to Leslie Street, are affected, and Sheppard Avenue East from Leslie west to Ambrose Road remains closed.

Toronto Fire Services said eastbound Sheppard was flooded when crews arrived, and police were on hand for the road closure before the city took over. It is not known when the roads will reopen. The city thanked residents for their patience and said updates will follow.

6. Danforth Village business set on fire; police seek arson suspect

Toronto police are looking for a male suspect who allegedly set a business on fire in Danforth Village on Saturday. The suspected arson happened near Danforth and Sibley avenues, west of Victoria Park Avenue, with police called around 6 p.m.

Investigators said the suspect went to the entrance of a business, briefly stayed by the door and then left, and a fire started shortly after from where he left, causing extensive damage. He is wanted for arson.

Police describe the suspect as a male with a light complexion, 60 to 70 years old, five-foot-eight to five-foot-nine with an average build, bald with short grey facial hair. He was last seen wearing a grey winter jacket, dark pants, white shoes and a black and white toque. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

7. Three charged, two wanted after more than $35K stolen from Toronto retail stores

Toronto police say a third suspect has been arrested and charged and two others are being sought following numerous retail thefts. Investigators say that between Jan. 14 and Oct. 11 a group of suspects was responsible for thefts at locations of a retail store across the city, with losses totalling $35,606.80.

Evan Douglas-Fish, 28, of Toronto, was arrested Saturday and charged with one count each of failing to subsequently attend court, obstructing a peace officer and personation with intent to avoid arrest, four counts of disguise with intent and 12 counts of theft under $5,000. The allegations have not been proven in court, and he was scheduled to appear in bail court Sunday morning.

Richard Hoskin, 45, of Toronto, is wanted for seven counts each of theft under $5,000 and disguise with intent, plus 15 counts of failing to comply with a release order; he is described as five-foot-10, 200 pounds, with short brown hair and blue eyes. Charles Clarke, 42, of Toronto, is wanted for five counts of failing to comply with probation and 25 counts of theft under $5,000; he is five-foot-11, 160 pounds, with long black hair and brown eyes. On Oct. 11, police arrested Jacob Doucette, 35, and Camille Dobson-Boire, 31, both of Toronto, who face multiple charges.

8. Ontario career college suspends classes as OSAP payments to private schools are paused

An Ontario career college has suspended its academic operations after the province paused student financial assistance to all private post-secondary institutions. Trillium College, with campuses in St. Catharines, Kingston, Oshawa, Sudbury and Cobourg, paused classroom and online instruction as of Friday, according to a notice to students obtained and confirmed by The Canadian Press.

The move follows Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn's announcement earlier this month that Ontario Student Assistance Program payments to career colleges and other private institutions are paused while an audit is underway. Trillium said it is offering interest-free payment arrangements, but many students say they cannot make those payments without OSAP funding; the college said continuing normal operations without a viable funding solution would place the orderly completion of programs at greater risk.

Quinn's office said the government is exploring low-interest, third-party loans facilitated by financial institutions but has not offered a clear timeline. The pause covers all private post-secondary institutions, including career colleges, private universities, chiropractic and naturopathic medicine colleges and performing arts schools such as Canada's National Ballet School, drawing widespread criticism that the measure is too broad. Freedom-of-information data obtained by The Canadian Press shows OSAP usage at some schools rose by several hundred per cent, or over 1,000 per cent in some cases, within three years; Quinn has not named specific colleges, and the data shows usage across Trillium's campuses rose 64 per cent.

9. Saskatchewan sends resources to Alberta, prepares to take patients

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in a social media post Saturday evening that the province has deployed resources to Alberta and is ready to provide more if required to assist in responding to the serious incident at CFB Wainwright. He said hearts are with all those affected, surrounding communities and frontline responders.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said in a statement on the morning of Oct. 18 that it was made aware of the incident the previous night and is ready to provide support upon request. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he asked for a detailed account and formal briefing from senior officials on the ground on Sunday afternoon.

STARS Air Ambulance confirmed it took part in the multi-agency response with aircraft and crews from its Edmonton, Saskatoon and Calgary bases, but as of Sunday afternoon did not have details on how many patients it transported. The Saskatchewan Health Authority said it was in contact with Alberta counterparts to coordinate potential patient transfers; as of 2:05 p.m. no patients had been transferred. NDP Leader Carla Beck thanked frontline health-care workers caring for injured soldiers.

10. Winnipeg election puts focus on tree protection as advocates push for a bylaw

Diane Poulin used to live among giant elms in Winnipeg. Five mature elm trees in front of her house leaned over the street and formed a canopy, and the biggest one stood in her backyard — all of them are now gone. Poulin and other advocates at Trees Please Winnipeg are pushing the city to adopt a bylaw controlling the cutting of trees on private property, where there is currently little stopping owners from cutting down as many trees as they please.

Advocates say protecting the urban canopy matters because trees provide shade in heat waves, clean the air, control rainwater and beautify the city. With more than 80 per cent of Winnipeg's trees on private property, Poulin says there needs to be a way to preserve them. The group has asked municipal election candidates to sign a pledge to enact a bylaw controlling the removal of all trees more than 15 centimetres in diameter; about 75 per cent of candidates have signed, but incumbent mayor Scott Gillingham is not among them.

At a recent campaign stop, Gillingham said he was proud of his record on trees, with the city boosting funding and its replacement rate, but he would only commit to council talking about a private-property tree bylaw, not passing one, saying the details and requirements need to be examined. Many Canadian cities already have some form of private tree bylaw: Surrey, B.C., passed protections in 2006, followed by Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto, and Edmonton has one in the works. Winnipeg's city leaders backed down from a forestry budget cut this summer after public outcry.

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