Maple Express | September 3, 2026 — Severe Thunderstorms Wreak Havoc Across Toronto

1. Severe Thunderstorms Wreak Havoc Across Toronto and the GTA

Source: CP24

An "extremely dangerous" thunderstorm swept through Toronto, bringing heavy rain, golf ball-sized hail and destructive winds that triggered widespread flooding, major power outages, and downed trees and wires. Many roads flooded quickly, stranding several vehicles whose drivers had to be rescued by police.

High winds downed power lines and trees and blew the roofs off several buildings, while emergency alerts urged residents to stay indoors. According to Toronto Hydro's latest update, power has been restored to 20,000 customers, but roughly 45,000 remain without electricity after the outage peaked at about 65,000.

The Don Valley Parkway was closed in both directions due to flooding, along with sections of the Gardiner Expressway and Allen Road. Several TTC routes were disrupted by flooding and debris, and Michael Garron Hospital's emergency department took on water but remained open.

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2. Potential Tornado Reported Near Kitchener, Ont.

Source: CP24

A tornado may have touched down in the Wellesley area after a powerful storm swept through southern Ontario. Environment Canada issued red tornado warnings from Stratford to Waterloo Region between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday evening as the system moved through.

Meteorologist Rob Kuhn said a "tornado debris signature" appeared on radar just northwest of Weimar Line and Hackbart Road. The signature could indicate a tornado or sudden wind gusts of 120 to 130 km/h, and reports of hail up to 5 cm were also received.

By 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Kitchener forestry crews had fielded more than 60 calls about downed trees and debris, and thousands of homes lost power. The Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University will send a crew to survey the damage and confirm whether a tornado occurred.

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3. U.S. CUSMA Exit Would Be "Severe but Not Cataclysmic" for Canada: Deloitte

Source: CP24

A Deloitte Canada report released Thursday says trade diversification would only plug part of the hole in Canada's economy if the U.S. withdrew from CUSMA. Titled "Tariffs: A Rough Road Leads to New Destinations," the report lays out best- and worst-case scenarios.

In the worst case, CUSMA dissolves — a "possibility that cannot be dismissed." With the U.S. accounting for about 70 per cent of Canada's exports in 2025, real GDP would fall 1.6 per cent, or $402 billion, over the next decade, and employment would shrink by 163,000 jobs annually. Manufacturing would bear the brunt, with motor vehicles and parts down 28 per cent by 2036.

The report argues Canada must also remove interprovincial trade barriers and foster new industries. Deloitte's 2025 research suggests that fully phasing out those barriers over five years would generate an additional $881 billion in output by 2040 and create 133,000 jobs.

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4. Peel and York Regions Confirm First Human West Nile Virus Cases This Year

Source: CP24

Health officials in Peel and York regions have confirmed the first human cases of West Nile virus in 2026. In a news release Wednesday, Peel did not say where the infection was contracted, but noted it serves as a reminder to guard against mosquito bites "even into the fall months."

Peel first reported mosquitoes positive for West Nile on July 27 and has since monitored activity across Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. York Region said its confirmed case was recorded in Vaughan, adding that a few human cases each year around this time are not unusual.

Officials advise using an insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin while outdoors. Infants under six months should not use repellents with these ingredients and should instead be protected with a mosquito net. Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after a bite and include fever, headache and nausea.

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5. Charges Laid in Fatal Scarborough Head-On Collision in May

Source: CP24

Toronto police have charged a Pickering man in connection with a fatal head-on collision in Scarborough in May. The crash happened on the evening of May 21 in the area of Sheppard Avenue East and Vandorf Street, just north of Highway 401.

Police said a Nissan Altima travelling north on Sheppard Avenue East crossed the centre line for unknown reasons and struck a Volkswagen Jetta. The Altima's passenger, a 42-year-old man, died at the scene, while the driver, a 38-year-old man, suffered life-threatening injuries. Both occupants of the Jetta were hospitalized with serious injuries.

On Wednesday, police announced the arrest of William Howard Garrett of Pickering. He faces charges of impaired operation causing death, dangerous operation causing death, and two counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm.

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6. Downtown Toronto Chinese Restaurant Serving Nearly $9K Goose During TIFF

Source: CP24

It's not quite a golden goose, but with a near-$9,000 price tag it might as well be. Lai Wah Heen, a Chinese restaurant in downtown Toronto, is serving "The Treasure of Fortune" during the Toronto International Film Festival, a five-course meal anchored by a Supreme Eight-Treasure Gourd-Shaped Goose on a bed of Italian white truffle.

The bird is stuffed with eight "rare" ingredients from the mountains and the sea, including wild Yunnan black tiger paw mushroom, Tianshan snow lotus seed, Tibetan cordyceps, a 15-head Japanese Yoshiama dried abalone, aged fish maw, wild Galapagos spiky sea cucumber and imperial scallop. The $8,888 meal, ordered three days in advance, also comes with a 500-gram tin of caviar.

Executive chef Heyden Sin said the dish draws inspiration from the Guangdong pigeon, Eight-Treasure Duck and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, with the challenge being to debone the goose without damaging its skin. The restaurant is located inside the DoubleTree hotel on Chestnut Street.

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7. 74-Year-Old Toronto Man Accused of Trying to Lure Children Into His Car

Source: CP24

A Toronto man has been charged in connection with an attempted child abduction in Caledon last week. Ontario Provincial Police said they responded to the area of Dotchson Avenue and Sparrowbrook Street at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday.

A complainant told officers that a man approached a group of children and tried to persuade them to get into his vehicle. The children refused, and the man drove away. On Wednesday, police arrested a 74-year-old man and charged him with abduction of a person under 14.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are appealing to parents and guardians to speak with their children. The accused, who was not named, is described as South Asian and was driving a white Honda Civic with extensive front-end damage.

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8. Ontario Teachers Set to Return to Classrooms Without New Contracts

Source: CP24

Ontario teachers and education workers are heading into the new school year without new contracts. The collective agreements covering the province's major education unions expired Aug. 31, with negotiations stalled over which issues should be bargained centrally versus locally.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) launched its "Know More" campaign Wednesday at Union Station. President René Jansen in de Wal said the campaign highlights concerns about education funding, classroom conditions and government policy, arguing that "$6.5 billion in cuts" are hurting kids.

Most public and Catholic schools are scheduled to return Sept. 8. The province says it is providing $30.6 billion in core education funding for 2026-27 along with a $750 Classroom Supplies Fund, and Education Minister Paul Calandra has said he remains "very optimistic" about reaching agreements.

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9. Tumbler Ridge Parents Face Anxiety as School Year Begins

Source: CP24

Seven months after the mass shooting that devastated the small northeastern B.C. community, residents of Tumbler Ridge say the shock still lingers. The Feb. 20 shooting left nine dead, and parents describe feelings of excitement followed by fear as classes resume.

Lydia Mannion, a mother of two, said the deconstruction of the high school where much of the massacre took place is the clearest sign of time passing. B.C. Premier David Eby announced in May that a replacement school would be built "as quickly as possible," with the federal and provincial governments pledging $200 million for the new school and health-centre upgrades.

Dozens of lawsuits are also unfolding in California against OpenAI, filed by surviving teachers, students and victims' families who allege the company failed to report the shooter's ChatGPT activity to police. The community plans a fundraiser and benefit concert Saturday to support those affected.

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10. Woman Whose Dogs Killed 11-Year-Old Edmonton Boy to Be Sentenced

Source: CP24

Crystal MacDonald, found guilty in May of criminal negligence causing death after her two dogs killed 11-year-old Kache Grist, is to be sentenced Thursday. On Wednesday, court heard that MacDonald expressed remorse, saying she carries guilt, grief and shame.

In 2024, Kache was visiting his father Wesley in the Summerside neighbourhood of south Edmonton over spring break, when Wesley was roommates with MacDonald. The two Cane Corso dogs fatally attacked the boy; they had previously killed two pets and injured three adults, including MacDonald.

At sentencing, the defence is seeking two years less a day of conditional house arrest plus 200 hours of community service, while the Crown is seeking five years in prison and a lifetime ban on dog ownership. Justice Eric Macklin is to deliver the sentence Thursday at 2 p.m.

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