SIU Clears Union President, Stittsville Flea Market to Close & Ontario Repatriates Communities — Ottawa Tuesday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Ontario begins to repatriate communities as wildfire suppression continues. Minister Mike Harris said there are 152 active fires in Ontario with 12 out-of-control fires and more than 700,000 hectares burned this season, including the Thunder Bay 36 fire at 350,000 hectares; crews from other provinces and Mexico have been assisting but some will now return home or head to B.C.
2. Highway 17 partially reopened between Deep River and Chalk River after crash downed power lines. Officials reopened lanes after a crash that brought down power lines on Highway 17 near Deep River and Chalk River; work to fully restore traffic and inspect the damaged lines is ongoing with local detours reported.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. SIU recommends against charging Ottawa police union president. The province’s Special Investigations Unit reviewed an incident involving Ottawa Police Association president and has recommended no charges; the SIU decision closes that criminal-review file without laying charges.
2. Youth arrested after shots fired during Facebook Marketplace deal in Manotick. Police arrested a teenager following a Manotick shooting tied to a Facebook Marketplace transaction; charges and the investigation details were released by Ottawa Police early Tuesday.

🌦️ Weather & Roads

1. Tornado alert for Ottawa downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning. Environment Canada downgraded a tornado warning for parts of Ottawa to a severe thunderstorm warning as storms moved through the area, changing the expected hazard level for residents.
2. Environment Canada implements new alert system for extreme weather warnings. Beginning Tuesday, forecasters will use polygon-based warnings to target affected areas for tornadoes and thunderstorms, replacing blanket zone alerts to reduce unnecessary notifications.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. Longtime Stittsville flea market to close this fall. Operators announced the Stittsville flea market will end its run this fall, closing a fixture of the community after years of weekly markets in the west Ottawa neighbourhood.
2. Kitigan Zibi author's Anishinaabemowin children's book recognized in global collection. A Kitigan Zibi author’s Anishinaabemowin-language children’s book was selected for inclusion in an international collection, highlighting Indigenous language publishing tied to the Kitigan Zibi community near Ottawa.

📰 Also Today

• Kids Help Phone reports 183% more overnight texts, crisis texts arrive every 90 seconds.
• Over 41,000 crossed Gordie Howe Bridge into Canada in its first five days, StatsCan says.
• Mississauga shelter cuts adoption fees to $25 plus HST for dogs and cats during event Aug. 8–22.
• Southwold keeps state of emergency after >200 mm rains, asks province about financial support.
• Over 1,000 Quebecers' bodies went unclaimed last year, provincial data reported.
• Killaloe resident faces 15 charges tied to a child sexual exploitation investigation.
• Military satellite deal with Ottawa company could prompt cabinet secrecy fight, report says.
• Endangered turtles released back into habitat, local conservation group led release.
• Five candidates to debate for Ontario Liberal leadership Monday, party schedules first debate.
• Quebec clamps down on refunds for Ontario empties, provincial policy change announced.
• New tornado, severe thunderstorm warning system aims to cut alert fatigue, meteorologists say.
• PQ leader reaches out to anglophones ahead of election, leader made outreach comments.