Ottawa Daily Digest — Feb 4, 2026

Big late-game swing — Anthony Edwards poured in 30 points (21 in the second half) to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 128-126 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 4, 2026. Minnesota (32-20) clawed back from an 18-point deficit; Jaden McDaniels scored 19 and Rudy Gobert had a double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds).

Shocking arrests in Toronto police ranks — Sources say at least nine Toronto police officers were arrested in a probe tied to organized crime and corruption (linked to York Regional Police’s Project South). A news conference is set for Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. at York Regional Police HQ in Aurora with Chiefs Jim MacSween, Ryan Hogan and Toronto’s Myron Demkiw expected to speak.

GO Trains still on a reduced schedule — After a GO train partially derailed leaving Union Station at 8:16 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 2), Metrolinx says track and signal repairs are continuing into Thursday morning, so commuter service in and out of Union runs on a reduced schedule while crews work around the clock.

Raptors make a deadline move — Reports say veteran point guard Chris Paul was moved in a multi-team deal (Clippers, Nets, Raptors) that clears Toronto of luxury-tax obligations and frees roughly US$7 million on the payroll. Coach Darko Rajakovic stressed players should focus on playing while the front office handles business ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline (3 p.m. ET).

Four cars flew over guardrails in one week — In four separate incidents last week, vehicles hit packed snow on shoulders and went over guardrails in Ontario, including a recent crash on Highway 427 that sent two people to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say snow piled by plows and icy overpasses (which can form black ice) plus driver error are likely factors; one Jan. 26 crash was fatal.

Regulator freezes trust accounts at Save Max brokerages — The Real Estate Council of Ontario froze trust accounts at four Mississauga Save Max First Choice offices, alleging about $2.7 million was unlawfully disbursed; Peel Regional Police has been notified and two brokers are suspended. RECO says frozen funds must go through insurance claims, and the move follows earlier big enforcement actions in the sector.

Medical staff leave Kashechewan after water parasite found — Indigenous Services Canada says all remaining nurses left Kashechewan First Nation on Monday after tests showed cryptosporidium contaminated the water; the community declared a state of emergency on Jan. 4 and more than 1,500 people were evacuated earlier, with about 370 still in the community last week.

Hockey group slams abusive parent behaviour — The Northern Ontario Hockey Association president Steve Lawrence issued a blunt warning after reports of parents making throat-slash gestures, urging comments to injure players, and hotel problems with unsupervised kids. He said such actions “must stop immediately” and outlined possible permanent bans and lifetime exclusions from NOHA events.

Toronto-area home sales and prices slide in January — TRREB reports January sales fell 19.3% year-over-year to 3,082 homes and the average selling price dropped 6.5% to $973,289, while active listings rose 8.1% to 17,975. The board expects price weakness through the first half of 2026 and notes buyer intent in the GTA fell to 22% (down 5 points year-over-year).

Canada’s Wonderland sets May 3 opening and hires 4,000 — The Vaughan amusement park will open its 2026 season on May 3 and is recruiting about 4,000 seasonal associates, with starting hourly wages at $16.60 for under-18s and $17.60 for 18+. The park spans 300 acres, has over 200 attractions, 18 roller coasters and a 20-acre water park.

Families learn of deadly Iran crackdown — Ottawa resident Mahnoosh Naseri and other Iranian-Canadians are finding out loved ones were killed during massive anti-regime protests that surged around Jan. 8–9; protesters faced a violent response from IRGC and police, and human-rights groups call the days among the deadliest in decades. Canadian MPs including Ali Ehsassi and Melissa Lantsman have urged stronger action as families search for answers.

Ontario Science Centre shrinks workforce via attrition after closure — Since the abrupt June 2024 closure of the Don Mills site, 34 workers have left and full-time staff fell from 219 to 185; officials say exits were through retirements and normal attrition. The centre plans an interim location at Harbourfront (about 86,000 sq ft vs. the old 568,000) with a longer-term move to Ontario Place possibly by 2029.

Maple Leafs ride a three-game streak into Olympic break — Toronto beat Edmonton 5-2 on Feb. 3 to earn their third straight win, with Matthew Knies noting the break (play resumes Feb. 25) is inconvenient but useful for rest. John Tavares and Matias Maccelli scored in a decisive 5-on-3 late in the third; the Leafs remain five points out of a wild-card spot.