Maple Express Evening | September 15, 2026 - 17-Year-Old Boy Killed in North York Shooting

1. 17-Year-Old Boy Killed in North York Shooting; Community Holds Memorials Tuesday

Source: CP24

A 17-year-old boy shot and killed in Toronto's Jane and Finch neighbourhood on Monday afternoon (Sept. 14) was remembered Tuesday (Sept. 15) as the community held a series of memorials. Amanda Coombs, founder and CEO of Back 2 Basickz Youth Support Services, told CP24 that the teen, Cashie Auguste, was an "amazing youth" who will be "truly missed."

Coombs said Cashie attended her after-school program upstairs at Yorkgate Mall and was an "all-around good kid" who "lit up any room that he was in," played the piano and keyboard and was always smiling. She recalled getting a call from youth at her centre the night before. "My first instinct was to pray he'd pull through. And then we got the news that he didn't... They robbed him of his life," she said.

Coombs's organization held a memorial for Cashie at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the York University TC Community Engagement Centre on the second floor of Yorkgate Mall, ending with a candle lighting outside his apartment building on nearby San Romanoway. A community-wide vigil was also set for 6 p.m. at Jane Street and Finch Avenue, with attendees asked to bring a candle. Cashie was a Grade 12 student at C W Jeffreys Collegiate Institute, and principal Gopal Devanabanda sent a letter to families saying social work supports would be available.

Police said the shooting happened just after 3:30 p.m. Monday; the teen was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead. As of Tuesday, no suspect information or motive had been released. Coombs called the broad-daylight shooting jarring, saying "this could have happened to anyone that was coming off that bus that day. I don't even know if he was targeted. He could have just been an innocent bystander." Toronto Coun. Anthony Peruzza (Humber River-Black Creek) called the death "an unimaginable loss," while local MPP Tim Rakocevic offered his sympathies.

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2. Carney Heads to Europe, Says Canada-EU Talks Could Cover Visa Rules

Source: CP24

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday (Sept. 15) that Canada's negotiations with the European Union could "possibly" include changes to visa requirements for Canadians travelling to Europe. Asked whether the talks could include changes to visa rules, he replied in French that "it's a possibility," adding "it will be an aspect within discussions."

Carney said the two sides could collaborate on energy and critical minerals, and that there are opportunities to expand research, cultural exchange and "people-to-people" ties. He was preparing to travel to Europe later Tuesday, is set to address the EU parliament later this week and will meet newly minted U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He said the bulk of discussions will take place at the Canada-EU summit in Montreal later this year. Under current rules, Canadians can visit the EU's Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Day 2 of Carney's investment summit also got underway. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the overarching attitude he has seen from fellow premiers is a Team Canada approach, and that while Canadians have been stressed by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, "there's even more of a willingness to just kind of dust off our hands and say, 'All right, let's get down to business and let's get things done for Canada.'" The government is also rolling out a "Productivity Mega Deduction," letting businesses deduct 100 per cent of the cost of eligible new investments, including fibre-optic cable, mining property, oil and gas pipelines, software, R&D, computer equipment, aircraft and vehicles, patents, rail track, bridges and roads.

New Nanos Research data shows Canada-U.S. relations, at 27.5 per cent, has returned to the top spot as the issue of concern for Canadians, surpassing jobs and the economy (21.1 per cent) for the first time in months. The firm also reported the Liberals lead at 48.3 per cent, ahead of the Conservatives (30.9 per cent) and NDP (10.9 per cent), while Carney leads as preferred prime minister at 56.1 per cent versus Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre at 21.1 per cent.

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3. CBSA Seizes 475 Pounds of Cocaine From Trucks Entering Canada From U.S.

Source: CP24

The Canada Border Services Agency says officers in Alberta seized hundreds of pounds of cocaine from two trucks trying to enter Canada from the United States this summer. The CBSA says officers at the Coutts border crossing in southern Alberta stopped one truck on July 26 and a second on July 31, intercepting a total of 475 pounds (215.5 kilograms) of the drug.

The first truck was referred for a second examination, during which officers found 80 bricks of suspected cocaine hidden within four boxes among the declared load. The driver and a passenger were arrested, and 200 pounds (90.94 kilograms) of cocaine was seized from the vehicle. The second truck was also sent for a second examination, where officers detected 107 bricks of cocaine totalling 275 pounds (124.6 kilograms).

"These significant cocaine seizures at the Coutts port of entry demonstrate the vigilance, expertise and dedication of our border services officers in preventing illegal drugs and other contraband from entering Canada and causing harm to our communities," said Janalee Bell-Boychuk, regional director general of the CBSA Prairie Region. The agency says that last year, its officers in Alberta made 1,292 seizures of illegal narcotics, including 2,324 pounds (1,054 kilograms) of cocaine.

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4. Two Women Charged After Protest Outside Carney's Investment Summit

Source: CP24

Toronto police say two women have been charged after a protest outside Prime Minister Mark Carney's investment summit, where hundreds of investors gathered at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Police said protesters deliberately blocked the road in the area of McCaul Street and Dundas Street West on Monday night, impeding officers and emergency vehicles.

One woman was arrested after she allegedly ignored directions to clear the road, while a second was taken into custody for assaulting an officer and trying to interfere with the arrests. Police identified the two women as 44-year-old Shelly Agius and 49-year-old Lily Phan, both facing a charge of obstructing a peace officer. Agius also faces a mischief charge, while Phan also faces a charge of assaulting a peace officer.

Police said the protesters, who were opposed to the summit, marched from Nathan Phillips Square to the AGO. The summit is part of Carney's overall plan to stimulate $1 trillion in investment in Canada over the next five years.

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5. Stabbing in Toronto's West End Sends Man to Hospital; Suspect in Custody

Source: CP24

A man was rushed to hospital after a stabbing in Toronto's west end late Tuesday morning. Police said it happened in the Roncesvalles Village neighbourhood, near Roncesvalles Avenue and Grenadier Road, at around 11:20 a.m.

Officers found a man in his 50s at the scene suffering from stab wounds. A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and a knife was recovered, police said. The extent of the victim's injuries is not yet known. Police described it as a developing story.

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6. Man Accused of Swinging Bat, Yelling Racial Slurs at Port Perry Park

Source: CP24

Durham police said Tuesday (Sept. 15) that a 38-year-old man is accused of swinging a bat at people while yelling racial slurs in a park in Port Perry. Police said they were called to Palmer Park on Aug. 30 for reports of an armed person, but the suspect had left by the time officers arrived.

After speaking with witnesses and reviewing video, officers learned the suspect allegedly made threats while yelling racial slurs. The suspect was later identified and arrested at his home in Scugog last week. Police also executed a search warrant at the home and seized items related to the offence.

In a news release Tuesday, police said Lucca Downey was charged with three hate-motivated offences: assault with a weapon, uttering threats and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public. Police believe there may be other victims and asked them to contact the hate crime unit or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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7. 91-Year-Old Man on Mobility Scooter Seriously Injured in Whitby Collision

Source: CP24

Durham police say a 91-year-old man was seriously injured when he was struck by a car in Whitby on Monday morning (Sept. 14). The crash happened near Taunton Road East and McKinney Drive, just east of Brock Street North, and police were called to the area at around 8:35 a.m.

Investigators say a 44-year-old man driving a Honda sedan southbound on McKinney Drive turned left as he approached the intersection at Taunton Road East, hitting the 91-year-old man, who was using a "mobility assister" scooter and heading northbound in the crosswalk. The senior suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

The driver remained on scene and cooperated with police. The Collision Investigation Unit attended and the roadway was closed for several hours while evidence was collected. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Det.-Const. Tymcio of the Collision Investigation Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5256, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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8. Four Years Into $10-a-Day Plan, Child-Care Waitlists Grow in Some Ontario Cities

Source: CP24

Four years into the national $10-a-day child-care program, waitlists are growing in some Ontario cities. According to The Canadian Press, Toronto mother Angela Zhu joined 40 different waitlists when she was newly pregnant, thinking that would be enough. But a year after giving birth to her son, the family had only one offer — for a daycare 30 minutes out of the way, with a start date nearly a month after she was supposed to return to work.

She took it and considered herself lucky. It was only this month, after 1.5 years of extra commuting and more than three years after joining the waitlists, that they finally got a spot in their neighbourhood. While about half of the provinces offer average fees of $10 a day, Ontario has not met that goal, with fees capped at $22 a day — still far below the upwards of $70 for some spots before Ontario joined four years ago. But some parents and at least one prominent advocate are urging Ontario to prioritize expansion over further lowering fees to $10.

An initial surge in demand from more affordable fees in 2022 sent many waitlists skyrocketing, and four years later access has become critical in some regions. Under its deal with Ottawa, Ontario was supposed to create 86,000 affordable spaces by this year but has reached just shy of 60,000. Ontario's financial accountability officer has estimated demand could put the need closer to 220,000 spaces. One Toronto daycare, Blossoming Minds, has closed its waitlist on more than one occasion; its director said the list was usually between 300 and 400 children before the pandemic and has surpassed 700 since the $10-a-day program began.

The Region of Waterloo has about 15,000 children waiting, a 200 per cent increase since 2021, while Thunder Bay's waitlist has more than doubled since 2021, with 1,235 alone waiting for an infant space. Ottawa has seen a 300 per cent increase in families seeking care since 2019, with about 8,500 children on its central waitlist. A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra, Emma Testani, said Ontario is committed to expanding access. Hana Park, a mother in Ottawa, moved her family to Gatineau, Que., because she could not find a spot.

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9. Family of Missing Canadian Skyrunner Says She 'Remains Among the Mountains'

Source: CP24

The family of famed Canadian skyrunner and mountaineer Kalie McCrystal, who went missing on the Matterhorn in the Alps more than two weeks ago, said Tuesday (Sept. 15) that she "remains among the mountains where she felt most at home." In a statement, her mother and sister said everything they know after an extensive search suggests she fell while descending the mountain.

The statement, shared by British Columbia provincial legislator Amelia Boultbee, a friend of McCrystal, praised search and rescue crews and said the family is confident everything possible has been done to find her. McCrystal was last seen Sept. 1 while attempting to break a mountain-running record in the Alps along the Switzerland-Italy border, climbing the 4,481-metre Matterhorn.

The family said friends and loved ones from around the world mobilized and went to remarkable lengths to help find her and bring her home, and that not finding her was not the outcome they had hoped for and is difficult to accept. It described McCrystal as a special person who moved through life with equal parts determination and fun, saying her absence will leave a hole in communities in skyrunning, Squamish and beyond. "While we desperately wish we could have found her, we find peace in knowing that she was doing what made her feel most alive until her very last moments, and that she remains among the mountains where she felt most at home," the statement said.

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10. Laval Mayor Shares Photo of Brain Tumour: 'As Big as a Golf Ball'

Source: CP24

Laval, Que., Mayor Stéphane Boyer has shared a photo of the tumour in his brain. The 39-year-old said on social media Monday that he recently had his first appointment with his neurosurgeon. "I got to see my tumour, and it's as big as a golf ball," he said. "It's the white mass between my eye and my brain in the photo. It's quite a shock, and it's stirring up a lot of emotions."

Boyer said he is trying to look past the negative side of his diagnosis. "Stress and everyday problems suddenly seem more trivial, less serious," he said. "I'm taking each day with a lighter heart." He added that he marked the emotional day by getting "my favourite donuts to share at the office," encouraging others to do the same: "Treat yourself and spoil those around you. Life is too short."

Boyer first shared news of his brain tumour last week, noting he plans to remain in office with scaled-back public activities. He explained he had been experiencing headaches and visual disturbances for several months, which prompted an MRI. Boyer has been mayor of Laval since 2021 and, elected at 33, became the youngest mayor in the city's history; he was re-elected in 2025 with 59 per cent of the vote. He has also been living with ankylosing spondylitis for several years.

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