Maple Express | August 16, 2026 Three-alarm fire at downtown Toronto's Zanzibar Tavern closes Yonge Street

1. Three-alarm fire at downtown Toronto's Zanzibar Tavern closes stretch of Yonge Street

A three-alarm fire at the Zanzibar Tavern in downtown Toronto forced the closure of a stretch of Yonge Street on Sunday morning. Toronto police said they were called to the area of Yonge and Elm streets just after 6 a.m.

Toronto Fire Services said crews responded to a fire on the roof of 359 Yonge St. and saw heavy black smoke when they arrived. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and firefighters remained on scene. Officials urged residents and drivers to avoid the area.

2. Man dead after two-vehicle collision in Brampton

One person has died and three others were taken to hospital after a two-vehicle collision in Brampton early Sunday morning.

Police have not yet released the victim's identity or the cause of the crash, and are asking witnesses to come forward. It is the latest fatal collision in the Greater Toronto Area this weekend.

3. Motorcyclist seriously injured in collision in Toronto's east end

One person was seriously injured after a collision involving a motorcycle and another vehicle in Toronto's east end on Sunday morning. It happened shortly after 10 a.m. near Gerrard Street East and Jones Avenue.

Police said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain unknown, and the area was closed for investigation. Drivers were advised to avoid the area.

4. Man charged in 'unprovoked' stabbing of TTC worker

A 36-year-old man has been charged in what police called an "unprovoked" stabbing of a TTC electrical worker. Police identified the suspect as Anthony Christopher David McLaughlin, who turned himself in on Saturday.

Police described the attack as unprovoked. The TTC expressed concern over the assault on its employee, and the union renewed calls for stronger protections for frontline transit workers.

5. E-scooter rider critically injured after hitting parked car's open door in North York

An e-scooter rider is in critical condition after colliding with the open door of a parked car in North York overnight. The collision happened around 1:40 a.m. near Driftwood Avenue and Jane Street.

Paramedics took the rider to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police reminded drivers to check for oncoming traffic before opening doors, and urged e-scooter riders to wear helmets and slow down.

6. Louis Foster wins pole at Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham

Louis Foster claimed pole position in qualifying for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham, the only IndyCar race in Canada, with a lap of one minute 13.2383 seconds.

Foster said he drove the final qualifying session fired up after barely reaching the Firestone Fast Six. The race is set for Sunday on the Streets of Markham, drawing large crowds of fans.

7. Edmonton Elks thump Toronto Argonauts 42-12 in CFL clash

The Edmonton Elks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 42-12 rout of the visiting Toronto Argonauts in CFL action Saturday.

An 85-yard interception return for a touchdown by J.J. Ross turned the game, as Edmonton scored 27 points off six Toronto turnovers. The Argonauts will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next game.

8. Ottawa wants to block kids under 16 from social media — how would age verification work?

The federal government introduced Bill C-34 in June, which would force social media platforms to block access for children under 16. Exactly how platforms would verify users' ages has yet to be worked out.

Culture Minister Marc Miller said there will be back-and-forth with platforms about what protects privacy and what is adequate. Observers are looking to other countries' age-verification experiences for guidance.

9. Ontario nursing regulator cracks down on Botox clinics' misleading practices

Ontario's nursing regulator is cracking down on questionable practices by medical spas and beauty clinics offering Botox and other injections. Industry experts say some clinics mislead consumers and put patient safety at risk.

The Toronto Star has identified four separate incidents — including one death — in which patients were allegedly harmed receiving esthetic treatments in the GTA. Officials urge consumers to choose licensed, reputable providers.

10. Canada-U.S. trade talks stall as Carney faces 50% tariff deadline

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to be presented with options after the latest round of Canada-U.S. trade talks, just days before 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods are due to take effect.

This week's talks aimed to find a solution that could avoid the tariff increase. Border point man Dominic LeBlanc spent most of the week in Washington meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Greer said the president and prime minister will obviously be given options and discussions; if the tariffs take effect, Canada could be forced to retaliate.