Montreal Local News Digests

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

Four killed in helicopter crash southeast of Montreal; TSB opens probe. The chopper went down just after 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Sainte-Brigide-d’Iberville and four people were declared dead at the scene; police said the aircraft caught fire but investigators have not said whether the fire started before or after impact. The Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. ↗
Quebec man found guilty of trafficking after 1,000 calls from jail. Jean-François D’Asti‑Brideau was convicted of human trafficking, benefiting from trafficking proceeds, pimping, disobeying a court order and obstruction of justice after prosecutors say he made close to 1,000 calls to his victim while in custody, a judge wrote in an Aug. 11 decision. ↗

Advance polls open in Quebec ahead of Oct. 5 general election. Voters can cast ballots today and Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ahead of the Oct. 5 vote; five parties expect to win seats: Coalition Avenir Québec, Parti Québécois, Quebec Liberals, Quebec Conservatives and Québec solidaire. Campaign debates this weekend included claims of possible U.S. interference raised by CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette. ↗
Premiers non-committal on Alberta's referendum proposals, including Senate abolition. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s four proposals — including abolishing the Senate, letting Alberta pick provincial appellate judges, opting out of federal programs while keeping funding, and giving provincial laws priority over Ottawa in jurisdictional disputes — would likely require the 7/50 rule and federal approval, and other premiers are keeping their positions private. ↗

Roussel and Brunelle win national short-track titles in Montreal. Roussel won the men's title and Brunelle the women's title at the national short-track championships held in Montreal. ↗
Black squirrels are helping Montreal scientists study urban-driven evolution. Montreal researchers are using black squirrels as a case study to understand how cities influence animal evolution. ↗
Pawpaw — a tropical fruit — is growing in parts of Canada. The story highlights the pawpaw, nicknamed an "alien banana," as a tropical fruit that can be cultivated in Canada. ↗