Fake child sex services ad created by Durham police receives over 6,600 clicks in four days
An ad created by the Durham Regional Police Service as part of their efforts to curb child sexual exploitation was viewed over 6,600 times in four days, officers said in a Thursday media release.
The ad was created as part of the police force’s Project Firebird, an ongoing initiative that focuses on individuals interested in purchasing sexual services from children, as well as educating and supporting victims and potential victims. The ad was designed to look like individuals could purchase sexual services from minors and received 6,678 web hits and messages from over 600 different phone numbers within a four-day period, police said.
So far this month, investigators have arrested five individuals and laid 15 charges relating to this incident.
Anyone with further information about sexual exploitation and/or human trafficking in Durham Region is asked to contact DRPS at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES
LIVE UPDATES Luigi Mangione arrested as 'strong person of interest' in killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson
New York authorities have identified Luigi Mangione as the 'strong person of interest' in connection with the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson. Follow along for live updates from CTVNews.ca.
Wait times grow as backlogs and frustration build amid Canada Post strike
Wait times for deliveries continue to grow as shoppers and businesses deal with the fallout from the Canada Post strike.
Family spokesman says slain Edmonton security guard had only been working 3 days
A spokesman for the family of a security guard who police say was murdered while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building last week says the man had only been on the job for three days.
Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game
The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate.
Gang leader in Haiti accused of massacring older people to avenge son's death
A gang leader who controls a key port in Haiti's capital is accused of massacring older people and Vodou religious leaders in his community to avenge his son's death, according to the government and human rights organizations that estimate more than 100 killed.
GST break could cost Ottawa $2.7B if provinces don't waive compensation: PBO
The federal government's GST holiday would cost as much as $2.7 billion if provinces with a harmonized sales tax asked for compensation, the parliamentary budget officer said on Monday.
What the upcoming holiday GST relief will mean for consumers
The federal government's GST break will arrive this Saturday, just in time for the last stretch of holiday shopping.
Canadian government to table fall economic statement next Monday
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to table the federal government’s fall economic statement next Monday, the government announced today.
BREAKING
BREAKING Suspect in killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in custody
The man suspected of killing UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in a brazen shooting outside a midtown Manhattan hotel last week has been arrested, New York City officials said on Monday.
Montreal
-
Police search for three men who escaped from immigration holding centre in Quebec
Authorities are searching for three Chilean nationals who escaped from the Laval Immigration Holding Centre north of Montreal.
-
Montreal to raise fines for some parking infractions in 2025
The City of Montreal says it plans to increase fines for specific violations, including double parking and parking in reserved lanes, starting in 2025.
-
Montreal hotel unveils province’s first year-round eco-friendly skating rink
Ruby Foo’s Hotel in Montreal now offers guests a year-round eco-friendly skating rink, the first in the province.
Ottawa
-
Treasury Board president accuses PSAC of sharing 'misleading information' on $1.9 billion public service pension surplus
The President of the Treasury Board is accusing a federal public service union of providing "misleading information" to its members, after the Public Service Pension Fund posted a non-permitted surplus of $1.9 billion.
-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Up to 5 cm of snow, freezing rain expected in Ottawa
Another blast of winter weather moved into Ottawa Monday afternoon, with snow and the risk of freezing rain expected tonight and on Tuesday. A special weather statement is in effect for Ottawa and eastern Ontario for tonight through Tuesday morning, warning freezing rain and freezing drizzle could cause ice build-up on some surfaces.
-
OC Transpo fare hike will cost Ottawa school bus authority extra $4.6 million this school year
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) is facing a $4.6 million pothole in its budget this school year, if OC Transpo's plan to eliminate discounted youth passes is approved as part of the 2025 City of Ottawa budget.
Northern Ontario
-
Wanted man arrested in North Bay after police chase on foot
North Bay police arrested a federal offender accused of breaching his statutory release nearly two weeks ago.
-
Sault Ste. Marie man gets timed served for punching Dollarama employee
A Sault Ste. Marie man was sentenced to jail after punching a Dollarama employee who confronted him about shoplifting this summer but was released Friday with time served.
-
Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game
The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate.
Kitchener
-
Charges for man who barricaded inside Stratford home during intimate partner violence investigation
The Stratford Police Service has announced the charges a 51-year-old man will face after a victim of intimate partner violence was found wandering in the snow last week.
-
Will he or won't he? Signs that Ford may call an early Ontario election stack up
Inside Ontario's legislature, the halls are decked, the sounds of children’s choirs singing Christmas carols waft down the corridors, and in the air there’s a feeling of an election.
-
Brantford residents could pay $106.75 more on their city taxes next year
The City of Brantford has put out their proposed 2025 budget which includes a 4.36 per cent tax increase.
London
-
Collapsed roof slowly being removed from historic Bayfield, Ont. hotel and restaurant
Part of the collapsed roof of the Albion Hotel has been removed but it's unclear if the structure, built in the early 1840s can be saved.
-
‘Do I pay my rent; do I give my kids Christmas dinner?’ Sally Ann Christmas Assistance Program helps families get through holidays
London’s largest Christmas assistance program kicks off on Tuesday.
-
Train hits vehicle in Thames Centre: OPP
The Middlesex OPP have confirmed a train collided with a vehicle in Thames Centre.
Windsor
-
Woman dies after vehicle crashes into south Windsor home
Windsor police say a 73-year-old woman has died after a vehicle hit a house in south Windsor.
-
Windsor’s Syrian community celebrates Assad’s departure, hopes to return home
The streets of downtown Windsor echoed with honking horns over the weekend as members of the city’s Syrian community celebrated major political developments in their homeland.
-
Penalized Windsor police officer continues appeal of 2022 Freedom Convoy donation
A penalized Windsor police officer continues to appeal a conviction related to his 2022 Freedom Convoy donation.
Barrie
-
Freezing rain creates slick conditions in Simcoe County
After all the snowfall that hit Muskoka and Simcoe County over the last week, Barrie and many other parts of the region are under a freezing rain warning as of Sunday evening.
-
Horse-drawn buggy collision with straight truck sends 4 to hospital
Four people were taken to the hospital after a collision involving a horse-drawn carriage and a straight truck in Southgate Township near Dundalk.
-
City tells residents 'Can't flush this'
Barrie's water treatment staff warn residents of dire consequences when 'unflushables' hit the drains.
Winnipeg
-
The snow is here: How much snow fell in Winnipeg and parts of Manitoba?
A low pressure system brought snow, freezing rain and freezing drizzle to much of southern Manitoba starting Sunday.
-
Six train cars come off the tracks northwest of Portage la Prairie
Six cars came off the tracks and Highway 16 was closed after a train derailment early Monday morning.
-
Bob Odenkirk makes an appearance at the Winnipeg Jets game
Another day, another moment of Bob Odenkirk enjoying what Winnipeg and Manitoba have to offer.
Atlantic
-
Conservation measures, mandatory restrictions for those served by Lake Major lifted: Halifax Water
Halifax Water says the voluntary conservation measures and mandatory restrictions for residents and businesses who are served by Lake Major have been lifted effective immediately.
-
Nova Scotia opens first transitional health centre in Bedford
Nova Scotia’s first stand-alone, transitional health centre will open its doors this week in Bedford, N.S.
-
Eastern Canada storm to impact Maritimes with high winds Thursday
An area of low pressure is forecast to develop into a strong storm as it moves from the northeastern U.S. into the St. Lawrence River Valley late Wednesday into Thursday.
N.L.
-
North anxious over dwindling necessities, no Christmas gifts, due to postal strike
Communities in Northern Canada say the postal strike is starting to choke off the supply and children in remote regions may not receive Christmas gifts this year.
-
Not just for your parents: Facebook's buy-and-sell platform drawing back millennials
The two-metre-tall anchor, believed to be from a century-old shipwreck, was salvaged by a fisherman in the 1980s. But last year, the 31-year-old Stapleton, who works as a navigation officer on a cargo ship, snapped it up on Facebook Marketplace.
-
'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken
Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth.
Edmonton
-
Alberta cancels foreign worker recruitment trip to United Arab Emirates
The Alberta government has pulled the plug on a foreign worker recruitment mission in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for early next year.
-
Family spokesman says slain Edmonton security guard had only been working 3 days
A spokesman for the family of a security guard who police say was murdered while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building last week says the man had only been on the job for three days.
-
Edmonton hosting family skate night to ring in the winter season
The City of Edmonton is hosting a festive night of family fun to ring in the holiday season with activities and a tree-lighting ceremony.
Calgary
-
Alberta cancels foreign worker recruitment trip to United Arab Emirates
The Alberta government has pulled the plug on a foreign worker recruitment mission in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for early next year.
-
Case of parents charged in toddler son's death returns to Calgary court
The parents accused in the death of their 18-month-old son are expected to enter a plea to manslaughter charges in a Calgary courtroom Monday.
-
Man dead after incident at workplace in northeast Calgary
Occupational Health and Safety and the Calgary Police Service are investigating how a man died on Sunday night.
Regina
-
Sask. Court of Appeal denies White City's request to annex 4000 acres from RM of Edenwold
A land dispute that's been taking place just east of Regina for the past six years has been put to rest, according to the Rural Municipality (RM) of Edenwold.
-
Regina homicide suspect makes national most wanted list
A man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in Regina earlier this year is now among Canada's top 25 most wanted.
-
Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game
The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate.
Saskatoon
-
Emergency crews searching the South Saskatchewan River for body of missing man
Saskatoon police and firefighters have begun searching the South Saskatchewan River for the body of a 48-year-old man who went missing late last month.
-
Sask. driver walks away without serious injury after car slides into train
One lucky driver walked away without serious injuries after their vehicle slid into a train near Langham, the Saskatchewan RCMP says.
-
Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game
The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate.
Vancouver
-
B.C. driver who blamed boozing on low blood sugar after fatal crash found guilty
A diabetic man who claimed he had been drinking alcohol to combat dwindling blood sugar the night he was involved in a fatal crash near Sicamous, B.C., has been found guilty of impaired driving causing death.
-
Delta police seek public’s help in search for injured missing man
Police in Delta, B.C., are issuing an “urgent request” for the public’s help in finding an injured, 21-year-old man.
-
Shots fired outside of Abbotsford home: police
A suspect is at large and authorities are appealing for information after shots were fired at an Abbotsford home early Sunday morning.
Vancouver Island
-
Burnaby RCMP announce charges in 2021 murder case
Mounties say two men have been charged in the 2021 murder of a 38-year-old man in Burnaby, B.C.
-
Taylor Swift ends record-smashing Eras Tour in Vancouver, after glittering global run
Taylor Swift took the stage for the final time on her record-smashing Eras Tour, watched by tens of thousands of delirious fans in Vancouver's BC Place arena and by millions on livestreams around the world.
-
Some cancer patients may forgo care due to high treatment-related costs: report
Since Natalie Lipschultz was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2019, she estimates the illness has cost her more than $20,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.
