Maple Express | November 6, 2026: Two-alarm fire at luxury North York home under construction leaves five displaced

1. Two-alarm fire tears through luxury North York home under construction; five displaced

Source: CP24

A two-alarm fire broke out at a luxury residence under construction in North York early Friday morning, with video from the scene showing flames spreading violently through the building. Toronto police said the fire started around 2 a.m. in the area of York Mills Road and Bayview Avenue. Nearby homes were evacuated and no injuries have been reported.

As of 7:30 a.m., the bulk of the fire had been knocked down and crews remained on scene to contain hotspots. An investigator told CP24 that five people have been displaced as a result of the fire. One lane is closed in both directions on York Mills Road near Daleberry Place.

CP24 first published the story at 6:34 a.m. Friday and updated it at 9:14 a.m., with the report built around video shot at the scene.

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2. Unemployment rate rises to 6.7% in October as Canada sheds 4,700 jobs

Source: CP24

Statistics Canada said Friday that the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent in October, up from 6.5 per cent in September, alongside a loss of 4,700 jobs. The agency said more people were looking for work.

The figures extend a rough stretch for the labour market: the economy shed 110,000 jobs cumulatively across September and August. A Reuters poll of economists had expected a bounce back with a gain of 13,600 jobs in October. "For anyone hoping that October would bring a recovery in the Canadian job market after back-to-back negative surprises, today's release is a disappointment," Sneha Puri, an economist with jobs search site Indeed, said in a media statement.

Private sector employment fell by 53,000 positions last month, the first decline since February, while the public sector added 50,000 jobs. The unemployment rate for workers aged 15 to 24 jumped to 13.7 per cent, up 0.7 percentage points from September. Wholesale and retail trade led the losses with 29,000 fewer roles, while transportation and warehousing and food and accommodation also posted declines, offset by gains in construction and education. Average hourly wages rose 2.2 per cent annually, edging down from 2.3 per cent, and the layoff rate was virtually unchanged at 0.7 per cent. The data land a little over a week after the Bank of Canada delivered its first interest rate hike in more than three years, raising the policy rate by a quarter point to 2.5 per cent. Thomas Ryan, senior North America economist at Capital Economics, said the uptick in the unemployment rate and muted wage growth show there is still slack in the job market.

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3. U of T dentistry dean steps down over antisemitic images in course material

Source: CP24

The University of Toronto said Friday that its dean of dentistry is stepping down immediately, following an investigation into his use of antisemitic imagery in February. Trevor Young, the university's vice-president and provost, said Anil Kishen voluntarily resigned as dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.

The investigation found that Kishen did not intend to promote antisemitism and had limited knowledge of the images' history. Young said Kishen has committed to learning more about antisemitism and has already undergone training. He will remain at the university as a tenured faculty member and return to his full duties in the 2027-28 academic year.

The university said acting dean Laura Tam will continue in her role as it looks for a new dean. This report by The Canadian Press, by Sadeen Mohsen, was first published Nov. 6, 2026.

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4. TDSB trustees demand clear criteria for ending provincial supervision

Source: CP24

The dozen trustees who represent the Toronto District School Board are pushing for a meeting with Education Minister Paul Calandra to discuss how and when board supervision will end. In a letter to the minister, the group said the purpose would be to discuss "the current state of supervision of the TDSB and what measures need to be taken in order for the governance of the board to be returned to the trustees."

The letter notes that Toronto voters elected a new board with a fresh mandate, with 672,546 people voting for trustees in the Oct. 26 election. "We believe that the democratic choices made by Toronto residents should not be ignored," it read. The TDSB, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and six others have been placed under provincial supervision over allegations of financial mismanagement, budget deficits, infighting and governance failures.

A TDSB memo obtained by CTV News earlier this week indicated trustees will continue to have very limited powers while under supervision: they are not allowed to attend school-based events or enter schools in their capacity as board members, and cannot engage with principals, school staff or school councils. All parental and community inquiries must be forwarded to the chief executive officer. The trustees say they are looking for "clear and transparent criteria" to end supervision, including the specific conditions that must be met for the board's authority to be restored.

In a statement to CP24, Emma Testani, press secretary for Calandra, said the minister made clear before the municipal elections that school boards will remain under supervision "for as long as it takes to ensure they are financially stable, well managed, and focused on student success." She said governance will only be returned to trustees when the province is confident the board is financially stable and positioned for long-term success.

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5. Driver clocked at 213 km/h on Hwy. 407 in Vaughan: OPP

Source: CP24

A 24-year-old Mississauga man is facing stunt driving and other charges after the BMW he was driving was clocked at 213 kilometres per hour on Highway 407 in Vaughan, Ontario Provincial Police said Friday. The vehicle was stopped near Dufferin Street, where the posted speed limit is 100 km/h.

The driver was charged with stunt driving and speeding more than 50 km/h over the posted limit. He was also charged with failing to surrender insurance, failing to surrender a permit, obstructing plates and failing to display two plates on the vehicle.

The car was impounded for 14 days and the driver's licence has been suspended for a month. In its post, police urged people to obey the posted speed limit.

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6. Police seek pickup driver after man and dog struck, dragged in hit-and-run

Source: CP24

Toronto police released details Friday about a hit-and-run and are searching for a pickup truck driver who struck a pedestrian and his dog, leaving both with serious injuries. Police said the collision happened at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, near Davenport Road and Salem Road North, involving a 31-year-old man and his dog.

Investigators allege the man and his dog were waiting to cross the street at the southeast corner when a black Ford F-150 travelling westbound on Davenport Road made an abrupt left turn and struck them. The man and his dog were "dragged a distance" before the driver fled southbound on Salem Road North without stopping, police said.

Both suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators believe the vehicle involved was a 2018 to 2020 black Ford F-150 with blacked-out taillights. Police noted the case comes amid a series of pedestrian collisions across the GTA, with at least nine people struck this week, including two children aged seven and one. Police are appealing to residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area around the time of the collision.

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7. Renaming Science Centre Station cost taxpayers $618,000: documents

Source: CP24

Records obtained by CTV News show that renaming the Science Centre transit station on Toronto's Line 5 cost taxpayers $618,000. The money paid for some 600 new signs and stickers around the transit network, including a large vinyl wrap around what is now Don Valley Station, after the Ford government abruptly and controversially shut the nearby Ontario Science Centre two years ago.

Adil Shamji, the Liberal MPP who represents the area, called the relocation effort "an exercise in wasting money." "The thought now that they are so committed to such a ridiculous exercise that they would spend nearly $1 million just to change the name on a station is preposterous," he said. When CTV News first requested a breakdown through a freedom of information request, Metrolinx provided 50 pages, with only five not blacked out entirely — two of those were Metrolinx's logo. After CTV News appealed to Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, which mediated the dispute, Metrolinx agreed to provide a total cost current to June 2026.

Metrolinx said the $618,000 figure was included in the Line 5 budget and bundled with other signage changes required for the project, such as the closure of TTC Line 3, to minimize overall cost impacts. The station was originally named for the Ontario Science Centre, designed by architect Raymond Moriyama and built in 1969. The building was shut down with just hours notice on June 21, 2024, when the Ford government said roof issues made it unsafe. The plan to move the Science Centre to Ontario Place has cost more than $1.4 billion.

Green Party MPP Mike Schreiner called the station cost "unnecessary and irresponsible," while NDP MPP Chris Glover suggested keeping the station name and reopening the Science Centre. Metrolinx said the new name reflects the station's proximity to the Don Valley Parkway, the Don River and the Don Valley itself, and aligns with its naming principles.

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8. Eastbound express lanes of Hwy. 401 blocked in Mississauga after collision

Source: CP24

The eastbound express lanes of Highway 401 were blocked in Mississauga on Friday morning following a collision. In a post on social media, Ontario Provincial Police said all express lanes are blocked at Creditview Road.

"This is east of Mississauga Road. Essentially, a collision involving somewhat of a jack-knifed tractor trailer," CP24 traffic specialist Lisa Morales said. She said the backup on approach extends as far back as Winston Churchill, toward where the express and collector lanes begin, and the westbound lanes are also impacted through the collision site.

She said Steeles Avenue or Derry Road could be alternatives for those seeking to avoid the backlog. It's not clear how long the closure will last, and OPP are advising motorists to avoid the area if possible.

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9. Off-road vehicle crash kills one, injures another in B.C. Interior

Source: CP24

One person is dead and another was airlifted to hospital after an off-road vehicle crashed over an embankment in the British Columbia Interior. Shuswap Search and Rescue volunteers were called Saturday to the area of Adams Lake, northeast of Kamloops, where first responders were trying to reach a pair of riders whose all-terrain vehicle had dropped off the side of a forest service road.

The search team said one injured rider was airlifted from the scene, while the other succumbed to his injuries. "Our condolences to his family and friends," Shuswap SAR said in a social media post. The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed it is investigating the death, but a spokesperson declined to provide details "because it's an open, active investigation."

According to the latest data published by the B.C. Coroners Service, the province saw an average of 12.7 accidental ATV deaths per year from 2009 to 2018. More than 46 per cent of those deaths were recorded in the Interior Health region, while 26 per cent were in the Northern Health region. Most victims — 84 per cent — were male, and alcohol or drugs were identified as a contributing factor in 51 per cent of the deaths.

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10. Canadian man accused of stalking former co-worker across U.S. border

Source: CP24

A Canadian man faces stalking charges in the U.S. after allegedly following a former co-worker from Canada to Texas. Nikolay Georgiyevitch Sapov has been indicted on two counts of stalking through interstate travel and stalking through electronic communications, according to a Wednesday release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Sapov in August as he travelled to the U.S. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison on each count, and potential fines. "No individual has the right to terrorize another human being or shatter their sense of safety inside their own home," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in the release. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Sapov first met the alleged victim several years ago when they were seasonal player services employees at the Miami Open tennis tournament, according to court filings referenced in the release. Prosecutors allege he developed an "obsession" with her, repeatedly contacted her outside work hours, tracked down her personal and family social media profiles and sent unwanted gifts and correspondence to her residences. He allegedly travelled to Orlando and Plantation, Fla., to stalk her in 2023 and 2025.

In June 2026, Sapov allegedly travelled from Toronto to Dallas, where the alleged victim was staying, rented a vehicle at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and found her gated residential complex. On June 22, the victim saw Sapov loitering near her apartment building; local law enforcement and property security responded and issued him a criminal trespass warning. Two days later, a neighbour's video doorbell captured an individual whose appearance seemed to match Sapov's, standing at the victim's front door wearing a full rubber mask to cover his face. The release also says he continued sending unwanted electronic messages through August, including an AI-generated image showing her posing next to him.

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