Ottawa Daily Digest — Feb 27, 2026

Tragic crash ends with a prison sentence — A Markham man, Haoju Zhou, was sentenced to six years in prison and given a 10-year driving ban after pleading guilty to impaired and dangerous driving causing the death of off-duty York Regional Police officer Travis Gillespie on Sept. 14, 2022; Gillespie, 38, died of blunt force trauma. Zhou had a G2 licence and a blood-alcohol reading of 80 mg/100 ml (above the 0.00% allowed for G2 drivers); the judge noted Zhou may be deported after his sentence and gave credit for 10.5 months pre-trial custody. In other words: a young driver’s choice to drink and drive cost a life and will keep him behind bars for years.

Massive cocaine bust leads to teen arrest — Durham police say a 17-year-old was arrested after a probe that ended Feb. 23, 2026, and a Toronto search warrant seized 325 kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $7 million. The accused is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act; anyone with tips is asked to contact police. This is one of Durham’s largest seizures, so it’s a big win for investigators.

Raptors searching for consistency after back-to-back blown leads — The Toronto Raptors (34-25) lost two games this week after holding big leads, dropping to 4-15 vs. the NBA’s top-10 teams; Brandon Ingram and coach Darko Rajakovic say the team must communicate better and finish games. Injuries to Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) and Scottie Barnes (quad) also affected closing ability; practice on Feb. 27 focused on defensive communication and fourth-quarter execution. The takeaway: Toronto’s still in playoff position, but needs steadier 48-minute effort.

Premier pushes to expand Billy Bishop airport runway — Ontario Premier Doug Ford told the Toronto Region Board of Trade he wants the downtown Billy Bishop Airport runway extended so it can handle larger (smaller) jets, citing a poll he says shows 70% public support. The island airport is governed by the city, the Toronto Port Authority and the federal government, and its lease was extended to 2045; Mayor Olivia Chow said she’ll work with the premier on waterfront plans. Translation for travelers: Ford sees downtown flights as an economic "gold mine," but expansion needs multiple levels of government to agree.

Cold case solved after 20 years — Brantford police arrested a 39-year-old woman on Feb. 26, 2026, in connection with the July 28, 2005 death of a newborn called "Baby Parker," charging her with indignity to a body and concealing a child’s body. New DNA technology and investigative work with Toronto police led to the identification; police don’t expect further charges and are keeping the accused’s name private. For the community, it’s a long-awaited step toward closure after two decades.

Pedestrian killed in Mississauga collision — A man in his 70s was struck and later died after being hit by a westbound blue Chevy Trax at Lakeshore Road East and Stavebank Road at about 7:10 p.m.; the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. Peel Regional Police’s Major Collision Bureau is investigating and no charges have been laid yet. It’s a reminder to watch for mid-block crossings, especially on busy evening roads.

Provincial watchdog investigates suspended Peel officers — The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) has taken over a conduct probe into three suspended Peel Regional Police officers after allegations surfaced in York Regional Police’s Project South corruption probe. Project South alleges serious offences among officers (bribery, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice); LECA says its investigation won’t interfere with any criminal probes and it’s also looking into the Toronto allegations. The situation has spurred a wider review of policing practices across Ontario.

Lotto Max jackpot jumps to $70 million — The OLG says the Lotto Max jackpot for Friday’s draw is $70 million, plus 10 Maxmillion prizes of $1 million each; tickets are sold until 10:30 p.m. ET and draws run Tuesdays and Fridays. Recent Ontario winners include $15 million in January and $80 million in December 2025. If you play, remember it’s a long shot — but someone will win.

AI-altered White House video sparks backlash, Senators’ captain defends himself — Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said an AI-doctored clip shared on the White House TikTok that made him appear to insult Canadians is fake, not his voice, and not his lips; the clip followed a White House visit and State of the Union appearance by U.S. players. Tkachuk scored a power-play goal but also drew a 10-minute misconduct in a 2-1 OT loss to Detroit; Ottawa is 28-22-8 and faces a five-game road trip with the NHL trade deadline on March 6. Bottom line: the fake video caused a stir, but Tkachuk insists he didn’t say it.

Family blocked from presenting to police board over 911 death case — Rick Buerger and Christine Stark say the Niagara Police Service Board refused to let them present concerns about their brother Ralph’s death after a 35-second 911 call on Aug. 30, 2024; Ralph, 59, was later found dead. The family wants changes like regular hearing tests and noise-cancelling headsets for 911 operators, but the board says the matter links to ongoing external reviews under the Community Safety and Policing Act. The family feels stonewalled while they seek answers and policy fixes to prevent future tragedies.