Handyman Underwear Sting, Lake Ontario Renaming & Toronto Sentencing — Ottawa Friday

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Gatineau police say a 52-year-old ‘handyman’ suspect may have more victims in Gatineau and Ottawa. Officers arrested the man on Nov. 20, 2025, after reports of underwear found missing from residences; investigators now believe there may be additional victims in Manoir des Tremble and elsewhere in Gatineau and Ottawa. Police ask anyone with information to contact their unit.
2. A 73-year-old woman has died after a Saturday home invasion in London, Ont.; a 40-year-old faces second-degree murder charges. Police say the woman was stabbed during the break-in and later died in hospital; the accused faces charges including break and enter, assaulting a police officer and obstruction.
3. Nathan Bell sentenced to 10 years, nine months for discharging a firearm in the Moss Park shooting. Bell was acquitted of first-degree murder on May 22 after a six-week jury trial but pleaded guilty at sentencing to three counts of breaching weapons-prohibition orders and was convicted of discharging a firearm with intent to wound.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. FAN EXPO Canada marks its 30th year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The convention opened Thursday, celebrates Pokémon’s milestone alongside FAN EXPO, and features a LEGO AT-RT display built from more than 142,000 bricks that took over 1,000 hours to build.
2. Paranormal Cirque Nightmare opens in Kingston under a big top blending circus and horror. The touring production—created in Italy in 2014—mixes aerial acrobatics, cabaret and horror, and ensemble member Momi says the show has been on tour across Canada and the U.S.; performer Garpej Wrete has toured four years with the production.
3. Indigenous leaders condemn U.S. executive order renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’. Wendat Nation Grand Chief Pierre Picard called the move “unacceptable” and said he requested a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra; Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed the lake “will be known as Lake Ontario ‘then, now and always.’”

📰 Also Today

• Ottawa’s 2026 mayoral candidates listed.
• One-stop guide published for Ottawa’s 2026 municipal election.
• Ottawa police seek to ID group suspected in a downtown stabbing.
• Ottawa’s Nepalese community mourns deadly floods back home.
• Court says OHL and WHL junior hockey players can seek compensation for alleged abuse.
• Despite renaming dispute, Great Lakes described as symbol of U.S.-Canada collaboration.
• Quebec faces calls to reform French-exemption process after autistic student denied.
• Police investigating possible underwear-theft victims in Ottawa and Gatineau.
• Teen on e-scooter in ByWard Market reported in stable condition after collision.
• Vehicle smashes into Gloucester store; two used lawnmowers reported stolen.