Toronto Weekly Digest — Mar 2–8, 2026

Toronto hit a record warm high of 17.4°C on March 6 and Environment Canada warned of 15–40 mm of rain, heavy fog and flood risk as thawing snow and frozen ground could boost runoff.

Two synagogues in Thornhill and North York were struck by gunfire overnight (no injuries); York and Toronto police are investigating and provinces/federal leaders condemned the attacks.

The Ford government put Peel and York Catholic school boards under provincial supervision, sidelining elected trustees amid concerns about finances and “infighting.”

Ontario will require school boards to provide paper report cards again after some moved fully digital, the government says this will make access easier for families.

Premier Doug Ford said he’s exploring filling part of Lake Ontario to build a downtown Toronto convention centre — a multibillion-dollar proposal that still needs environmental study.

Metrolinx has cut more than 400 consultant contracts as CEO Michael Lindsay tries to bring expertise in-house and rebuild public trust after delays on projects like Finch West LRT.

Metrolinx’s Finch West LRT launch suffered winter switch problems and low service availability; the CEO apologised and says fixes are in place to prevent repeat issues.

Eglinton Crosstown LRT service between Sloane and Pharmacy was briefly halted after a train hit a car on March 6; no injuries were reported and trains resumed about two hours later.

The Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to Tampa Bay on March 7 as Nikita Kucherov set up four goals; Toronto has dropped seven straight since the Olympic break and made several deadline trades.

NHL trade deadline saw 23 deals, including Nazem Kadri to Colorado and Corey Perry returning to Tampa; new playoff salary-cap rules and limits on double retentions shaped the market.

The Toronto Raptors fell 111-95 to the New York Knicks on Mar 3, a sign the team is still learning to close games against top teams; Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady hosted a fan 'Bills Night' at the game.

NBA player Dillon Brooks of Mississauga was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, on suspicion of DUI after a traffic stop on Mar 6; he was released after booking.

Halton police investigating mausoleum thefts say more than 600 stolen items have been recovered after thefts at cemeteries across the GTA and Niagara, and are asking families to check posted photos.

Durham police charged eight people in a long-running fraud that may have siphoned over $3 million from a commercial cleaning company; five suspects remain wanted.

York Regional Police charged a 40-year-old Toronto man with six counts of fraud after an alleged investment scam that took in more than $2.5 million.

OPP-led Project OLLIE seized 18 kg of suspected fentanyl (about 180,000 lethal doses) on Feb. 10 in Brampton, and three people were charged in the interprovincial trafficking probe.

Public health officials warn that veterinary sedatives (medetomidine) are increasingly found mixed with fentanyl in Canada, raising overdose risks because these tranquillisers don’t respond to naloxone.

After arrests of seven serving officers in an anti-gang probe, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw launched a two-year anti-corruption project to strengthen vetting, supervision and system controls.

Peel police now treat the disappearance of Mississauga woman Mezhgan (Sara) Aini as a homicide; investigators say a suspect has been identified and her family is seeking justice.

During Frank Stronach’s sexual-assault trial in Toronto, the Crown said it will not proceed on an attempted-rape count and the judge indicated not-guilty verdicts on some charges may follow.

Montreal police arrested Bryan Fuentes Gramajo, Canada’s most-wanted fugitive, and charged him with first-degree murder in the July 15 Yorkdale mall shooting that killed Kashif Bentley-Jean.

Greater Toronto Area home sales fell 6.3% year-over-year in February to 3,868 transactions and the average selling price dipped to about $1,008,968 as buyers and sellers stayed on the sidelines.

Brampton plans to fine retailers $100 for shopping carts abandoned on city property and may explore requiring GPS-locking tech to reduce public-safety hazards.

Toronto Public Health paused suspensions tied to school vaccine records for the rest of the school year to reduce disruption, while still urging families to update immunization records.

Proposed Toronto–Québec City high-speed rail faces growing rural opposition over expropriations, environmental impacts and travel corridors; project costs are estimated at $60–$90 billion.

A winning $75-million Lotto Max ticket from the March 3 draw was sold in Toronto — the top prize winner hasn’t yet been publicly identified.

Global oil prices jumped past US$81/barrel amid the Iran conflict, driving gas price spikes and market volatility that Canada is already feeling at the pumps.