Maple Express | August 08, 2026 Summerland, B.C. Under Full Evacuation as Wildfire Explodes to 50 km² in 3 Hours

1. Entire Community of Summerland, B.C. Ordered to Evacuate as Wildfire Spreads Rapidly

The entire municipality of Summerland, B.C., on the southwestern shore of Okanagan Lake, was placed under a full evacuation order Friday evening as the Bald Range wildfire exploded in size. First detected at 5:30 p.m. PT, the fire grew to 50 square kilometres within just three hours. Erick Thompson of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen's emergency operations centre said the fire is exhibiting Rank 5 behaviour, with embers being carried up to a kilometre ahead of the main fire front, sparking new ignitions.

Local resident Ashley Jestin told CBC News her home burned in the fire. Her husband came home from work around 4:30 p.m. to see flames and smoke on the hill near their home. "By the time we got out, we had embers on the seats of our car," Jestin said. The B.C. Wildfire Service has deployed air tankers, helicopters, and ground crews. At least 55 people have been rescued by air support. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Summerland has a population of over 12,000, and Highway 97 may be closed at any time.

2. Canada Adds 75,000 Jobs in July, Unemployment Hits Two-Year Low

Canada's economy added 75,000 jobs in July, a 0.4 per cent increase, pushing the unemployment rate down to 6.4 per cent — its lowest level in two years, according to Statistics Canada's labour force survey released Friday. Wholesale and retail trade alone added 21,000 positions, with gains split between full-time and part-time work. Employment rose most for people aged 25 to 54, particularly women in that age group.

Ontario led all provinces with 52,000 new jobs, a 0.6 per cent increase driven largely by the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. British Columbia added 18,000 jobs. CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham called the figure "well above" forecasts. Laura Ulrich of Indeed described three consecutive months of positive employment data as "exactly how turning points begin."

3. Toronto Housing Market May Be Entering 'Balanced' Territory

New data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board suggests the GTA housing market is beginning to tighten, with fewer homeowners listing their properties for sale. July home sales dipped just 0.9 per cent year-over-year to 5,995 transactions, while new listings fell nearly 18 per cent to 14,484. On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales increased from June while listings declined, pointing to gradually tightening conditions. The average selling price in July was $1,003,956, down 4.5 per cent from a year ago.

TRREB Chief Information Officer Jason Mercer said the data may indicate "we're at the bottom of the current cycle." Toronto's average home price peaked at $1,334,544 in February 2022 during the pandemic-era frenzy, and has since dropped more than 25 per cent. In 2025, only 62,433 homes were sold in Toronto — the lowest total since 2000.

4. Two 18-Year-Olds Charged with First-Degree Murder in Salsa on St. Clair Shooting

Toronto police have arrested and charged two 18-year-old men in connection with the deadly shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair street festival last month. Jessiah Massaro-Gill and Lewis Downey each face two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. On July 11, gunfire erupted at the popular Latin cultural festival, killing Shaquan Quashie, 25, and Cesar Vernaza, 20, and injuring five others as thousands fled for cover.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said officers withheld details during the investigation to preserve its integrity. Both suspects were found in possession of firearms, narcotics, and Canadian currency at the time of arrest. Massaro-Gill faces 11 charges including drug trafficking and unauthorized firearm possession. The investigation remains ongoing.

5. Man Found Dead After Etobicoke House Fire

A man was found dead inside a residence after firefighters extinguished a house fire in Toronto's Etobicoke area. Police and fire officials are jointly investigating the cause of the blaze, and the victim's identity has not yet been released.

6. 16-Year-Old Boy Points Loaded Gun at Officers During North York Arrest

Toronto police say a 16-year-old boy pulled out a loaded handgun and pointed it at officers who were attempting to arrest him in North York earlier this week. No officers were injured. The teen faces multiple firearms-related charges. His identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

7. Bradford Man Charged After Installing Hidden Cameras in Markham Washrooms

York Regional Police have arrested a Bradford man accused of installing hidden cameras in multiple washrooms at commercial locations in Markham. The number of victims remains unclear, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. The man faces multiple criminal charges related to voyeurism and privacy violations.

8. Ontario Couple to Be Sentenced October 6 in $265K Taylor Swift Ticket Scam

A Burlington, Ontario couple who defrauded dozens of people in a $265,000 Taylor Swift concert ticket scam will be sentenced on October 6. The pair exploited overwhelming demand for Swift's concerts by posing as ticket sellers, collecting payments from victims across Ontario for tickets that never materialized.

9. U.S. Booze May Return to Canadian Shelves, But Nearly 70% Say They Won't Buy It

Canada is prepared to lift bans on American alcohol sales in exchange for U.S. tariff relief, sources told CBC News. However, a Nanos Research poll found 69 per cent of Canadians said they were unlikely to buy American alcohol even if it returns to store shelves. Support for a continued boycott was highest in British Columbia at 80.9 per cent.

Nova Scotia resident Deb Anderson, 65, told CBC the "constant badgering and unfair negotiation practices" from the Trump administration have "really given us a bad taste for all things American." Ontario's finance minister has stated U.S. alcohol will not return to LCBO shelves until a "comprehensive deal" is reached.

10. Canadian Broadcasting Legend Lloyd Robertson Dies at 92

Lloyd Robertson, the iconic Canadian journalist who served as chief anchor of CTV National News for 35 years, died Tuesday evening at the age of 92. His broadcasting career spanned more than six decades, beginning in 1952 at a local radio station in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario. He made his national television debut with the CBC in 1956 before moving to CTV News in 1976, where he became the face of Canada's most-watched nightly newscast from 1984 until his retirement in 2011.

Robertson covered some of the most consequential events of the modern era, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "For me, it's been a rare privilege to have been able to serve in this position for so long. It's been a front-row seat to history," he said during his final broadcast in 2011. Tributes poured in from across the journalism world, celebrating Robertson as "a broadcast legend."