Updated Black Lives Matter Toronto blasts Pride for 'abysmal' handling of black issues

by John Rieti, Linda Ward

Black Lives Matter Toronto today doubled down on its calls to keep police floats out of the city's Pride parade and blasted the event's organizers.

'Disheartened, emotional and truly scared': Canadian rapper Drake on Alton Sterling killing

Toronto rapper Drake says on social media he's "disheartened" and "truly scared" following the death of Alton Sterling, a Louisiana resident who was shot and killed in an altercation with police Tuesday evening, the first of two incidents involving police shootings of black men.

Brother-sister duo still in elementary school lobby for improved playground in Jane-Finch area

In a neighbourhood hurting for kid-friendly community spaces, a brother and sister at Jane and Finch are taking on the challenge themselves.

Homicide unit now investigating Markham woman's disappearance

by Nicole Dawe

York Regional Police homicide unit is taking over the case of missing Markham woman named Ying Chun Li that is now being deemed suspicious. They are asking for help identifying a potential witness.

Extreme Heat warning issued for Toronto, but end to hot, humid weather on the way

by Nicole Brockbank

Prepare yourselves for yet another hot and humid day as an extreme heat warning has been issued for Toronto — but fear not, the end is in sight.

Canadian Anglicans set to debate whether they'll bless same-sex marriages

by Colin Perkel

The Anglican Church, the third-largest in Canada, is set to grapple with whether to allow same-sex couples to marry in a divisive debate that has already stirred strong emotion and seems destined to come down on the status quo ban.

Updated Leafs reveal centennial plans

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced plans for their centennial season at a news conference at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Toronto not doing enough to protect cyclists, says councillor

by Jonathan Rumley

Less than a month after Toronto councillors voted to double the size of the city's cycling network, serious collisions involving cyclists continue to occur.

Ottawa makes no promises to help U of T student detained in Dhaka

Global Affairs Canada says it is closely monitoring a situation in Bangladesh involving a University of Toronto student detained by police for questioning after a deadly attack on a Dhaka café.

Postal workers' union refuses arbitration with Canada Post

Canada Post's largest union has rejected a proposal from the federal labour minister to undergo binding arbitration to avoid a potential work stoppage, but the threat of that work stoppage has been delayed — at least until Monday.

Photos 'It might be months': Those affected by Mississauga explosion cannot go home

by Jonathan Rumley

A massive explosion that rocked a Mississauga community has left many residents displaced and facing an uncertain future.

'I'm not celebrating, there's no way': unhappy Eid in wake of Baghdad bombing

by Errol Nazareth

Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival of thanksgiving to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is often compared to Christmas. But, in the wake of a devastating attack by ISIS that killed more than 200 people in a busy shopping district in Baghdad on Sunday, many GTA Muslims are choosing not to celebrate.

Canada Post not essential but not irrelevant, say experts

by Mark Gollom

With a lockout looming, there's renewed focus on whether Canada Post should be considered an essential service. Some still rely heavily on the Crown corporation while others will greet the service disruption with ambivalence.

Recap Stro-Show revival completes Jays' sweep of Royals

Marcus Stroman (7-4) pitched eight innings, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out six as Toronto (48-39) won its fifth in a row. It was the longest outing he's pitched in two months, since he threw eight innings on May 1 in a 5-1 win in Tampa.

Motorcyclist dies in Scarborough crash near Highway 401

A motorcyclist is dead after a collision with a vehicle in Scarborough, Toronto police said Wednesday night.

Turn down AC in extreme heat, urges Toronto Hydro

by Jonathan Rumley

Toronto Hydro is sweating the high temperatures in the city as it asks customers to reduce their consumption of electricity.

Point of View Pride 'firmly rooted in a tradition of protest': Black LGBT community leaders on parade controversy

Claims that Black Lives Matter held the Pride parade hostage are empty, writes a group of black LGBT community leaders. The group was carrying on in the spirit and tradition of Pride, the elders say, by standing up for vulnerable communities.

Point of View This gay Toronto cop sent an open letter to Pride Toronto about the Black Lives Matter protest

In an open letter, Toronto police Const. Chuck Krangle says the Black Lives Matter protest that disrupted yesterday's Pride parade is exclusionary and says police 'have just as much right to participate as any other group. '

Point of View Black Lives Matter Toronto recaptures Pride's activist roots

Pride has its roots in activism and protesting injustice, writes one of its original organizers. The controversy surrounding Black Lives Matter Toronto's involvement with Pride, he argues, needs to be understood in light of that history.

'Demand is at a record level': Toronto-area home prices jump almost 17%

by Andrew Lupton

House prices in Toronto continue to surge as would-be buyers struggle with a lack of supply in a red-hot real estate market, according to a new report from the Toronto Real Estate Board.

Cabbagetown playground fire could be arson, say Toronto firefighters

Children in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighbourhood have lost a local playground after an apparent case of arson Tuesday.

2 injured after cable snaps on Burlington Lift Bridge

Two workers have been taken to hospital — one with life threatening injuries — after a cable snapped on the Burlington lift bridge.

Cyclist rushed to hospital after colliding with car in Georgina

A cyclist was raced to hospital after after colliding with a vehicle in York Region on Wednesday.

Cyclist had right of way before fatal collision, police say

by John Rieti

A cyclist who swerved into a parked van to avoid a turning car had the right of way moments before the deadly collision, Toronto police say.

Tory calls excluding police from Pride parade 'a backwards step'

by Linda Ward

Toronto Mayor John Tory is speaking out after last weekend's Black Lives Matter protest at Canada's largest gay Pride parade, saying he would have "serious concerns" if police were excluded from participating.

Marco Estrada heads to disabled list instead of All-Star Game

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed starter Marco Estrada on the 15-day disabled list.

'I feel pretty lucky': Falling tree branch narrowly misses women doing yoga in park

by Linda Ward

Two women were enjoying a sunny day in the park Tuesday when they were nearly hit by a falling tree branch.

Prosecutors appeal sentence for Maple Leaf Gardens sex abuser Gordon Stuckless

The Crown is appealing the sentence of Gordon Stuckless who pleaded guilty to 100 charges related to the sexual abuse of the 18 boys decades ago.

CNE disability consultant glad free admission is cancelled, found it 'insulting'

by Nicole Brockbank

The CNE will no longer offer free admission to people with disabilities when the Ex opens its gates later this summer, and at least one woman with disabilities says it's about time.

Heat slows down GO trains, UP Express

Metrolinx says GO Transit and UP Express trains will be going slower this afternoon due to the high temperatures.

Raonic to face Federer again in Wimbledon semis

Canada's Milos Raonic defeated Sam Querrey of the United States 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 Wednesday to earn a date with Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals for the second time in three years.

Could your thoughts replace your password?

Do you ever worry about the security of your online passwords? Soon your own thoughts could be channelled into protecting your data. A team at the University of California, Berkeley is working on a technology called passthoughts that uses a person’s brainwaves to identify them.

Family, friends call for release of U of T student held in Dhaka after attack

by Muriel Draaisma

Family and friends of a University of Toronto student say he is being held by police in Bangladesh for questioning after he survived an attack at a Dhaka café and that he should be allowed to return to his family.

Cyclist dies after slamming into van while swerving to avoid moving car

by John Rieti

A 71-year-old cyclist died in hospital after slamming into a parked van on Dupont Street just west of Christie Street Tuesday afternoon, Toronto police say.

Black Lives Matter flooded with hate mail following Toronto Pride parade sit-in

An activist group that stalled Canada's largest Pride parade to demand more rights for racialized communities says it's being flooded with hate mail, some of it sent by members of the LGBT community.

Feeding Our Future program provides free lunches to 40,000 kids at Toronto camps

by Errol Nazareth

When school broke last summer, many students in Toronto who rely on a free lunch probably wondered where that meal would come from. Enter Feeding Our Future, a program launched by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation to provide children with nutritious meals at camp.

Ontario parents struggle to get treatment for baby after suspected tick bite

by Muriel Draaisma

An Ontario couple whose 10-month-old son was believed to have been bitten by a tick is urging other parents to check their children for bites — and to advocate for timely testing and a course of antibiotics long enough to treat the infection.

5 charged in connection with Canada Day shooting in Aurora

York Regional Police have charged five men in connection with shooting at an Aurora banquet hall that injured four people Friday night.

Hot, dry summer causing 'weather whiplash'

by Lucas Powers

In many parts of Canada, especially in southern Ontario and Quebec, it's been a very hot and dry summer. That makes for good nights on the patio, but the people who grow our food are getting desperate for rain.

Sex assault suspect caught on camera wanted in 2 more investigations, police say

Police say a sex assault suspect captured on surveillance video may be connected to two other violent assaults.

Mississauga man facing 54 charges for online credit card fraud

by Nicole Dawe

A man from Mississauga is facing 54 criminal charges in connection with a series of purchases made using stolen credit card data throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

App aims to save food from waste bin, bring bargains to buyers

by Linda Ward

A new app aims to connect people with discounted food that would otherwise be headed for the landfill. The app Flashfood will find grocery stores, restaurants and catering companies that have surplus food to sell and connect them with a buyer.

Ajax drive-by shooting leaves Mississauga man dead

A 33 year-old Mississauga man is dead after a drive-by shooting at the front entrance of a townhouse complex on the south side of Ducatel Crescent in Ajax.

2 west-end homes damaged in fire

Two homes were left badly damaged after a house fire in the city's west end early Tuesday.