Erskine‑Smith’s Ward 19 Run, Richmond Hill Trail Assaults & North York Crash — Toronto Tuesday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Three people hospitalized after North York crash at Don Mills Rd and Mogul Dr. Toronto paramedics say the crash occurred just before 4 p.m. Tuesday and left three cars damaged; one patient has serious, possibly life‑threatening injuries while two others have minor injuries. Investigators remain on scene and drivers should expect delays in the Don Mills Road area.
2. Single‑vehicle crash toppled hydro poles in Brampton, cutting power to 4,300+ customers. Peel police say the crash on Rosedale Ave around 1:15 a.m. knocked down poles and downed lines; the driver was treated for minor injuries and arrested for suspected impaired operation. Alectra reported peak outages of more than 4,300 customers and about 1,100 remained without service this morning.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Man charged after two sexual assaults on Richmond Hill trail near Highway 7 and Bayview. York Regional Police charged 30‑year‑old Jan‑Hoy Cassells with sexual interference, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon and obstructing justice after alleged incidents on Aug. 12 and Aug. 14; both victims escaped and police say there may be additional victims. Cassells was located shortly after the second alleged assault and taken into custody.
2. Human remains of a Smiths Falls man found on Kelly Jordan Road property, third discovery there. OPP said remains of 42‑year‑old Lawrence Bertrim, last seen Sept. 30, 2022, were located Aug. 6 on the same property where remains of Robert Lambert were found; a $50,000 provincial reward for information linked to the cases remains in place. Cause of death has not been determined.
3. Police advocacy group calls for officer mental‑health action after three recent officer suicides. Canada Beyond the Blue president Dilnaz Garda cited three officer deaths by suicide in three days across Hamilton, Durham and the RCMP and said officers average 800–1,000 traumatic incidents over a career; the group urges increased awareness and support for serving members.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Former MP Nate Erskine‑Smith entering Toronto Ward 19 (Beaches‑East York) council race. The 42‑year‑old former Liberal MP confirmed to Global News he will run for the Ward 19 seat this fall after leaving federal politics and failing to secure a provincial nomination earlier this year; he served as MP from 2015 through 2025 and was named federal minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities in late 2024.
2. Premier Doug Ford met Loblaw CEO Per Bank at his Etobicoke home one day after dismissing grocery pricing legislation. Government records show the private meeting took place April 17 and was attended by a single staffer; Ford had publicly rejected opposition proposals to restrict surveillance pricing on April 16.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. TMU task force to balance protest rights and campus safety, talks start next month. The task force chair said consultations will begin next month to address protests and safety on campus at Toronto Metropolitan University. (Source: task force announcement.)
2. Family sues owners and management after toddler fell from North York high‑rise. The civil suit was filed by the family of the toddler who died after a fall from a North York condominium; the family is pursuing legal action against building owners and management.

📰 Also Today

• Ontario aims to connect 600,000 more people to primary care.
• Ontario to spend $10 million on new skills‑development programs.
• Legal groups question constitutionality of Ontario's new cash‑bail system.
• Some Ontario school boards report fewer trustee candidates this election.
• Over 700 Brampton homes and businesses initially reported without power after collision.
• Summer camp retained instructor who pleaded guilty to assault; Ontario law allowed it.
• Crown appealing post‑verdict mistrial in Frank Stronach sexual‑assault case.
• CBSA confirms deportation of former Iranian deputy interior minister Syed Salman Samani.
• Ontario municipal CAOs say they were punished for dissent under Ford government, StrategyCorp survey.
• (duplicate covered in Part 1) Single‑vehicle crash in Brampton knocked down hydro poles, driver arrested.
• Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford calls for mandatory addiction treatment.
• Mother continues fight against gun violence one year after son, 8, was shot in bed.
• (duplicate covered in Part 1) Nate Erskine‑Smith confirms run for Ward 19 Beaches‑East York.