Toronto — Daily Digest (Feb 1, 2026)

Raptors bounce back: R.J. Barrett led Toronto with 21 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 20 off the bench as the Raptors beat the Utah Jazz 107-100 on Feb. 1, 2026, snapping a two-game skid — Toronto improved to 30-21 while Utah fell to 15-35 (their sixth straight loss). Scottie Barnes had 14 points and nine rebounds, Lauri Markkanen paced Utah with 27 and 11, and the teams wore warm-up T-shirts marking the 75th anniversary of the NBA colour barrier.

Scottie Barnes named All-Star reserve: The 24-year-old Barnes was named one of seven Eastern Conference reserves on Feb. 1, joining players like Donovan Mitchell and Pascal Siakam; he’s averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 49 games. Barnes became the sixth multi-time All-Star in Raptors history, and head coach Darko Rajakovic had hoped Brandon Ingram would also get nods for the team.

Thousands rally for Iran in Toronto: On Feb. 1, thousands gathered at Sankofa Square to support protesters in Iran and call for regime change after nationwide unrest that began Dec. 28 over a deepening economic crisis. Some Toronto demonstrators backed exiled prince Reza Pahlavi and even Western intervention; Tehran says more than 3,000 have been killed while other groups estimate far higher tolls.

Three underage Quebec girls found in York Region: After a tip on Jan. 27, York Regional Police traced three missing under-18 girls to a Richmond Hill home and arrested two males — a 23-year-old and a 17-year-old — on human trafficking-related charges. Police say one youth was arrested at the scene and urge anyone with information or concerns to contact the Counter Exploitation Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6800 or HT@yrp.ca.

Bernard Drainville enters CAQ leadership race: On Feb. 1 Drainville launched his bid to replace François Legault in Lévis, arguing Quebec needs a stronger nationalist voice and reviving a controversial “third link” tunnel idea. His declared rival is Christine Fréchette, who already has the support of nearly half the cabinet; so far Drainville is backed by one cabinet minister and eight other MNAs.

Ottawa wants banks, pension funds in affordable housing: Housing Minister Gregor Robertson says the new Build Canada Homes (launched Sept. with $13 billion) is trying to recruit banks and pension funds to finance affordable projects, noting the agency has received about 450 applications. One early project, Arbo in Toronto, will have 540 units with at least 40% affordable housing as Ottawa tries to speed up homebuilding amid mixed regional results in 2025.

February’s full Snow Moon rises tonight: The full “Snow Moon” reaches peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST on Feb. 1 and will appear full shortly after sunset — a great show from an open, east-facing spot where you might also spot the star Regulus. The moon’s next phases: last quarter Feb. 9, new moon Feb. 17, and the next full moon (the Worm Moon) on March 3 will include a total lunar eclipse.

Ullmark’s emotional winning return for Senators: Linus Ullmark, who took a personal leave on Dec. 28 for mental-health reasons, made a stirring return with a 26-save outing in Ottawa’s 4-1 win over New Jersey on Feb. 1, saying he felt nervous but supported; he’s 15-8-5 this season. Teammates, coaches and even referee Justin Kee publicly supported him, and fans filled Canadian Tire Centre with welcoming signs.

Matthews’ second chance seals Leafs win: Auston Matthews scored in the shootout and William Nylander added the clincher as the Maple Leafs beat the Canucks 3-2 on Feb. 1, snapping a six-game losing streak. Matthews leads Toronto with 26 goals and 46 points; the Leafs are 25-21-9 and feel the urgency as they trail the playoff race.