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. ↗