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Daily Toronto Aug 19 - Aug 19, 2026

Fletcher's Exit, CNE's Wacky Menu & Mississauga Crash — Toronto Wednesday

24 articles 1 week ago 163

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

  1. Motorcyclist killed after collision with Mississauga transit bus. Peel Regional Police say the crash happened near Bovaird and Great Lakes drives at about 9:26 a.m.; the rider, a man in his 50s, was pronounced dead and the bus driver was taken to hospital while investigators examine speed, CCTV and vehicle black boxes.
  2. 28-year-old pedestrian struck and killed by truck in Ajax. Durham police report the fatal collision left a pedestrian dead; investigators have not released charges and are continuing inquiries into the circumstances around the incident.
  3. 60-year-old man dead after e-scooter crash in North York. Toronto police confirm a 60-year-old male died following a crash involving an e-scooter in the North York area; the incident is under investigation by traffic investigators.

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Longtime Councillor Paula Fletcher announces retirement after 23 years. Toronto-Danforth Coun. Fletcher registered then withdrew her nomination this week and said she made the decision while paddleboarding on Lake Ontario; she remains in office until the fall and declined to name a successor.
  2. FOI shows Ford trade trip to Texas cost taxpayers more than $93,000, opposition says. Opposition critics released Freedom of Information details this week totaling over $93,000 for the provincial trade mission, prompting calls for accountability from critics in the legislature.

🎨 Community & Culture

  1. CNE’s 2026 menu includes Kraft Dinner smoothies, pickle coffee and nitrogen Oreo treats. Organizers previewed wacky foods ahead of the fair’s Friday opening and noted astronaut Jeremy Hansen will appear on opening day as part of the galactic theme.
  2. Heritage Toronto’s ‘Plaque Fridays’ uses short videos to highlight city plaques. The weekly campaign is hosted by Meg Sutton and has become Heritage Toronto’s best-performing social content, boosting plaque viewership since a popular February video during Chinese Heritage Month.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

  1. Peel police sign binding deal with OHRC and board to implement anti-racism policies. The agreement creates an independent verifier and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, with binding arbitration for disputes and follow-up on 2023 recommendations for data, training and service changes.
  2. Police warn of new cellphone scam using fake job offers from real companies. Local police report fraudsters are sending fake employment offers that appear to come from legitimate companies as part of a growing cellphone-targeted scam.

📰 Also Today

  • Resident charged after firing during attempted auto-theft at Kingston and McCowan.
  • CNE also serving pickle cheesecake pops and cotton candy hot sauce at 2026 fair.
  • Missing pilot found dead after plane recovered from Kawartha Lakes lake.
  • Markham Indy president apologizes after opening day practices were cancelled.
  • Ontario pilot David Douglas, 73, found dead after plane submerged in Wolf Lake.
  • Amsterdam police received 500+ tips identifying mystery man ‘Lucky’ with potential Canada ties.
  • Top global basic income experts met in Toronto; Senate bill discussed.
  • Former MP Nate Erskine-Smith to run for Beaches–East York council seat.
  • Homeowner charged after gunfire during attempted vehicle theft; no injuries reported.
  • One ‘Aedes albopictus’ Asian tiger mosquito detected in Lincoln, Niagara Region, negative for viruses.
  • Quebec couple sues Ontario surrogacy agency seeking nearly $200,000 after stillbirth.
  • Mitchell leads Fever past Tempo 101–95; Sykes returns for Toronto after two months.
  • Toronto resident captures Zanzibar fire on video, posts footage online.
  • Motorcyclist killed after crash with transit bus in Brampton, police report.
  • Heritage Toronto showcases “unknown” city history through a social media video series.

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Source Articles (24)

Fraudsters making fake offers from real companies in new cellphone scam, police warn

Police are warning residents of a scam in which fraudsters make unsolicited calls to victims and pose as representatives of legitimate cellphone companies as a way to get expensive devices.

General Aug 19, 2026

'Just crazy to see': Toronto resident captures Zanzibar fire on video

A Toronto resident captured on video the huge fire at Zanzibar Tavern that gutted the adult entertainment nightclub on Yonge Street over the weekend.

General Aug 19, 2026

Mitchell leads Fever past Tempo 101-95; Sykes returns for Toronto after 2 months

Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points as the Indiana Fever held on for a 101-95 win over the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday.

General Aug 19, 2026

Former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith to run for council seat in Beaches-East York

Former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith will run for a Toronto city council seat in Beaches-East York in the October municipal election.

General Aug 19, 2026

Top global basic income experts in Toronto, senate bill top of mind

Academics, policymakers and researchers with expertise in basic income from over 30 countries will be in Toronto this week for the Basic Income Earth Network Congress. Part of the week, they will be examining Canada's basic income landscape.

General Aug 19, 2026

60-year-old man dead after e-scooter crash in North York: Toronto police

A driver of an e-scooter has died from his injuries after crashing into the open door of a parked vehicle in North York Sunday morning, Toronto police said.

General Aug 19, 2026
Quebec couple sues Ontario surrogacy agency after stillbirth, alleges improper expenses

Quebec couple sues Ontario surrogacy agency after stillbirth, alleges improper expenses

A Montreal couple is suing an Ontario surrogacy agency for nearly $200,000 after a stillbirth and what they allege were improperly reimbursed expenses, claims the company denies.

Canada Aug 19, 2026

Heritage Toronto showcases city's 'unknown' history through social media video series

Heritage Toronto is trying to encourage people to stop and read plaques scattered around the city through a weekly short-form video series.

General Aug 19, 2026

Motorcyclist dead after crash with transit bus in Brampton, police say

A motorcyclist in their 50s is dead after a crash in Brampton Wednesday morning, police said.

General Aug 19, 2026

28-year-old pedestrian dead after being hit by truck in Ajax: police

Pedestrian on rollerblades was struck by a truck that was turning at an intersection in Ajax Tuesday, Durham police said.

General Aug 19, 2026
‘Aggressive’ Asian tiger mosquito found in Niagara Region

‘Aggressive’ Asian tiger mosquito found in Niagara Region

Niagara Region Public Health said Tuesday it has detected a single Aedes albopictus mosquito, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, through its ongoing surveillance program.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Resident charged after shooting during attempted auto theft at Toronto home

Resident charged after shooting during attempted auto theft at Toronto home

A resident has been charged after gunfire broke out during an attempted auto theft at a Toronto home early Wednesday morning, police say.

Crime Aug 19, 2026
Peel police sign ‘first-of-its-kind’ deal to implement anti-racism policies

Peel police sign ‘first-of-its-kind’ deal to implement anti-racism policies

The deal dates back to 2020 when the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to undertake work aimed at addressing racism and advancing equitable policing in Peel Region.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Heritage Toronto’s Plaque Friday videos showcase city’s history with viral moments

Heritage Toronto’s Plaque Friday videos showcase city’s history with viral moments

Each video also features a person wearing a pigeon mask and cooing along or a stuffed version of the bird, providing comedic relief to some otherwise heavy topics. 

Canada Aug 19, 2026

Missing pilot found dead in aircraft submerged in lake in Kawartha Lakes region, OPP says

A pilot who has been missing since Friday has been found dead after searchers discovered his small aircraft underwater in the Kawartha Lakes region this week, Ontario Provincial Police say.

General Aug 19, 2026

'A dog and pony show': Opposition slams Ford after FOI reveals Texas trade trip cost taxpayers over $93K

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's spring trip to Texas to talk trade and tariffs cost taxpayers just over $93,000, a decision note obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request reveals. The office of the premier said in a statement the trip laid the groundwork for billions in new investment, more good-paying jobs, and stronger economic ties between Ontario and the U.S.

General Aug 19, 2026

CNE's 2026 wacky foods include Kraft Dinner smoothies, pickle cheesecake pops and a cotton candy hot sauce

Anyone looking forward to waiting in line for the strangest food creation of the year will enjoy sipping a Kraft Dinner smoothie, indulging in a pickle cheesecake pop or trying the CNE’s new signature cotton candy hot sauce in various food items.

General Aug 19, 2026

Police charge resident who allegedly opened fire during attempted car theft

Toronto police say they charged a resident of a home who allegedly opened fire as suspects attempted to steal a vehicle from the driveway.

General Aug 19, 2026
Who is ‘Lucky’? Dutch police believe mystery man may have ties to Canada

Who is ‘Lucky’? Dutch police believe mystery man may have ties to Canada

The man collapsed in Amsterdam in 2023 from a hemorrhage or stroke but police in the city have been unable to identify him for three years.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Missing pilot found dead after massive search in Ontario

Missing pilot found dead after massive search in Ontario

The pilot went missing Friday after leaving Oshawa Executive Airport that morning but then not returning back about an hour later as scheduled.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Motorcyclist dead after collision with Mississauga bus: Peel Regional Police

Motorcyclist dead after collision with Mississauga bus: Peel Regional Police

Police said it received a call around 9:26 a.m. for a crash near Bovaird and Great Lakes drives involving a motorcycle and the bus.

Canada Aug 19, 2026
Longtime Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher announces retirement

Longtime Toronto councillor Paula Fletcher announces retirement

Fletcher said she’s still councillor until the fall and said she’ll continue answering calls for broken branches or sewer issues, like she has this week.

Politics Aug 19, 2026
What’s on the menu? CNE announces this year’s wild food offerings

What’s on the menu? CNE announces this year’s wild food offerings

Kraft Dinner smoothies, nitrogen-infused Oreo treats and pickle-flavoured coffee are among the wild food offerings at the Canadian National Exhibition this year. 

Entertainment Aug 19, 2026
Markham Indy race president apologizes after opening day practices cancelled

Markham Indy race president apologizes after opening day practices cancelled

It was the first year Markham hosted the event after it was moved from Toronto’s Exhibition Place, where it had been held since 1986.

Canada Aug 19, 2026