Daily Digest — Ottawa — Feb. 1, 2026

Hot night: R.J. Barrett scored a team-high 21 and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 20 as the Toronto Raptors beat the Utah Jazz 107-100 on Feb. 1, 2026, snapping a two-game skid. Scottie Barnes (14 points, 9 rebounds) left briefly with a left-foot issue, Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 27 points and 11 rebounds in the Jazz’s sixth straight loss; the game featured 12 lead changes and teams honoured Black History Month during warmups.

Nice milestone: Scottie Barnes, 24, was named an NBA All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference on Feb. 1, joining seven other East reserves including Donovan Mitchell and Pascal Siakam. Barnes is averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 49 games this season and became the sixth Raptors player with multiple All-Star selections; Toronto was 29-21 entering the Utah game.

Big rally in Toronto: Thousands gathered at Sankofa Square on Feb. 1 to back Iranians protesting since Dec. 28 and to call for the fall of Iran’s Islamic regime, with some supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrators pointed to a deadly crackdown — Iran says more than 3,000 dead while other groups estimate up to 36,500 — and some in Toronto even voiced support for Western intervention.

Rescue in York Region: After a tip on Jan. 27, York Regional Police traced three under-18 girls from Quebec to a Richmond Hill home and arrested two males — a 23-year-old and a 17-year-old — on human-trafficking and related charges. Police say one girl was stopped leaving in a car and another was found inside; anyone with information should call 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6800 or email HT@yrp.ca.

New CAQ hopeful: Bernard Drainville officially launched his campaign on Feb. 1 in Lévis to succeed François Legault as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, saying Quebec needs a stronger nationalist voice and reviving a contested Québec City–Lévis "third link." His main rival is Christine Fréchette, who already has support from about half the cabinet; Drainville currently has backing from one minister and eight other legislators.

Ottawa wants big money building homes: Housing Minister Gregor Robertson says the new Build Canada Homes agency (launched in September with $13 billion) is trying to get banks and pension funds to help finance affordable and "non-market" housing. One early project — Toronto’s 540-unit Arbo — will be at least 40% affordable; CMHC reported housing starts rose 5.6% in 2025 but growth is uneven and timing will be a challenge.

Look up tonight: The February "Snow Moon" reaches peak illumination at 5:09 p.m. EST on Feb. 1 and will appear full shortly after sunset across Ontario — best viewed from open, eastern horizons where you might also spot the bright star Regulus. Next lunar dates: last quarter Feb. 9, new moon Feb. 17, and the next full (Worm Moon) on March 3, which brings a total lunar eclipse.

Heartfelt return: Linus Ullmark returned from a personal leave that began Dec. 28 and made 26 saves in a 4-1 Ottawa Senators win over the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 1, praising the team's support and admitting he felt nervous in a good way. The 32-year-old said he’s been working on letting emotions flow and is 15-8-5 this season.

Second chance worked: Auston Matthews scored the shootout winner and William Nylander — back from a seven-game absence — also scored in the shootout as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Feb. 1, snapping a six-game losing streak. Matthews leads the Leafs with 26 goals and 46 points; Vancouver’s goalie Nikita Tolopilo made 39 saves while Toronto’s Joseph Woll had 28 saves.