Fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleads not guilty as sex-assault trial opens in Toronto
Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleaded not guilty Thursday to all charges against him in his Toronto sexual-assault case, as jury selection for his trial got underway.
The 82-year-old – who appeared in court in a wheelchair, sporting a black suit with his long white hair tied back – entered his not guilty pleas before sitting quietly beside his lawyers during the jury selection process.
Nygard is facing five counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.
Justice Robert Goldstein has said he expects jury selection in the case to be completed this week.
Nygard, the founder of a now-defunct international women's clothing company, has been accused of using his position in the fashion industry to lure women and girls.
He has denied all the allegations against him.
Nygard founded Nygard International in Winnipeg in 1967.
For years, Nygard stores throughout Winnipeg were draped in photos of him and he was given a key to the city in 2008.
He stepped down as chairman of the clothing company in February 2020 before it filed for bankruptcy.
Arguments in his Toronto case are set to begin Tuesday, with the trial expected to last approximately seven weeks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.
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
1 in 9 Canadian adults have had long-term symptoms from COVID infection: StatCan
Statistics Canada says about one in nine Canadian adults have had long-term symptoms from COVID-19 infection.
Canada is deporting more people faster, drawing concern from migrant advocates
Advocates are sounding the alarm on the rise in deportations in Canada and are calling on the federal government to follow through on its 2021 promise to expand a regularization program for undocumented people living in the country.
More wintry weather is on its way to Canada, with a big storm system closing in
Canadians should expect snow, freezing rain and more winter conditions this weekend as storms travel across the country.
Two charged with murder of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and partner in Dominica
The director of public prosecutions in the Caribbean nation of Dominica has confirmed that two men have been charged in the death of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and his partner.
More caffeinated energy drinks pulled from shelves: Here's what was recalled in Canada this week
Here's a list of items Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled this week, including mushrooms, more caffeinated energy drinks, and electric cooktops.
'Pseudoscience': Alberta's health minister under fire for naturopathic medicine meeting
Alberta's health minister is facing pushback after taking a meeting focused on naturopathic medicine's role in the province's primary care.
Judge rules in favour of NBA star, nullifies purchase of $8M Burlington mansion once occupied by 'crypto king'
A judge has ruled in favour of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his lawsuit against a company that sold him a Burlington mansion previously occupied by self-proclaimed ‘crypto king’ Aiden Pleterski.
NFL coach apologizes for crediting 9/11 hijackers for co-ordination in Buffalo Bills team meeting years ago
An emotional Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott acknowledged regret on Thursday for crediting the 9/11 hijackers for their co-ordination during a team meeting four years ago.
Six French teens await a verdict over their alleged roles in Islamic extremist killing of a teacher
A French juvenile court is handing down a verdict Friday for six teenagers accused of involvement in the killing of teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded by an Islamic extremist after he showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his class for a debate on freedom of expression.
Montreal
-
7 days of strikes for Quebec's Common Front
Unions representing 420,000 Quebec public sector workers are beginning a weeklong strike.
-
Could right to English services be lost under Quebec's new health care reform?
A proposed amendment to Bill 15 would give Sante-Quebec the power to revoke the bilingual status of a health care agency.
-
TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC Here are the road closures to expect on the weekend in Montreal
Those planning trips to or from the Island of Montreal on the weekend should note that there are several route closures to be expected. The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, the Saint-Pierre interchange and on the Highway 15 in the Atwater Avenue sector will all feature closures and should be avoided, as well as others listed below.
London
-
Novice driver charged with possession, impaired driving
A novice London driver has been charged with possession of meth and “other drugs” as well as driving under the influence of drugs following a traffic stop Thursday night.
-
Worker dies due to fall in Zorra Township, Ministry of Labour investigating
Oxford County OPP are investigating a fatal workplace accident that happened Thursday morning on 15th Line in Zorra Township.
-
Police investigate fatal Tillsonburg crash
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a fatal two-vehicle collision in Tillsonburg.
Kitchener
-
Ont. woman pleads guilty to defrauding doulas
A Brantford, Ont. woman who faked being pregnant to defraud doulas and obtain care under false pretences has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including fraud, mischief and committing indecent acts.
-
Renowned scholar, with ties to Waterloo, Ont. university, reportedly killed with his family in Gaza
Sofyan Taya, a former guest scholar at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City. His friend and former colleague called him a brilliant and gentle soul.
-
Local OHL players prepare for IIHF World Junior Championship
The IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is just around the corner - an exciting time for hockey fans across Canada.
Northern Ontario
-
Infant death in Wawa being investigated by police
An investigation is underway after an infant with no vital signs was brought to a northern Ontario hospital, Ontario Provincial Police say.
-
Man fatally shot by police in Newmarket amid domestic disturbance: SIU
A man is dead after being shot by police officers north of Toronto during a call for a domestic disturbance on Wednesday night.
-
More caffeinated energy drinks pulled from shelves: Here's what was recalled in Canada this week
Here's a list of items Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled this week, including mushrooms, more caffeinated energy drinks, and electric cooktops.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa Hospital declares 'Code Red' after fire at Civic Campus ER
Ottawa's largest hospital says a 'Code Red' was called at the Civic Campus on Carling Avenue at approximately 6:30 a.m. following a fire in the emergency department.
-
Driver dies following two-vehicle crash in Manotick
Ottawa police say the driver of one of the vehicles has died following a crash at the intersection of Moodie Drive and Brophy Drive on Thursday.
-
Big tippers! Ottawa residents are some of the most generous tippers on Uber Eats
The fifth annual Cravings Report by Uber Eats shows Ottawans rank as the second most generous tippers on the app, and second on the list for cities that order the most healthy food in Canada.
Windsor
-
Windsor Hanukkah celebrations provide respite from grief, turmoil
Around the world millions of menorahs were lit Thursday evening, as the Jewish community marked the first night of Hanukkah.
-
Weapons, $12K in drugs seized in Chatham bust
Police seized more than $12,000 worth of meth and fentanyl, a loaded rifle and several replica guns, ammunition and a “large amount” of cash during a drug bust in Chatham.
-
Fire breaks out at south Windsor home
Windsor fire officials say a house fire in the city’s south end is under control.
Barrie
-
Wood stove fire destroys garage in Penetanguishene, Ont.
Both Penetanguishene and Midland fire services arrived at a detached garage fire around 5 p.m. Thursday.
-
Environment Canada issues fog advisory for Simcoe and Muskoka regions
Environment Canada says areas of dense fog will dissipate this morning.
-
Barrie Food Bank receives $65.2K from Tim Horton's Smile Cookie campaign
Tim Hortons released the results of its Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign in Barrie.
Atlantic
-
Maritimers face longest surgical wait times, far beyond national average
The Maritime provinces are leading the country in lengthy healthcare wait times, showing a stark contrast to the national average.
-
Prices at the pumps drop across the Maritimes
Motorists in the Maritimes are paying less for gas and diesel after prices decreased overnight in all three provinces.
-
4 people arrested after report of ‘armed peoples’ entering a Saint John home: police
The Saint John Police Force says four people have been arrested for weapons offences, after a report of “armed peoples” entering a home in the city.
Calgary
-
Overnight snowfall leads to slick, slippery roads in Calgary
Some persistent snow overnight has created some challenging conditions for drivers on the last day of the work week in Calgary.
-
'Pseudoscience': Alberta's health minister under fire for naturopathic medicine meeting
Alberta's health minister is facing pushback after taking a meeting focused on naturopathic medicine's role in the province's primary care.
-
Residents displaced by house fire in southwest Calgary
A fire forced residents of a four-plex in southwest Calgary out of their homes on Thursday night.
Winnipeg
-
Icy roads, snowy conditions prompt school and bus cancellations in Manitoba
Icy roads and snowy weather in parts of Manitoba have prompted some school and bus cancellations on Friday.
-
Winnipeg police charge basketball referee with sexual assault
A basketball referee is facing sexual assault charges after Winnipeg police say two victims have come forward.
-
Winnipeg breaks 100-year-old weather record on Thursday
The warm weather in Winnipeg on Thursday put an end to an end 100-year-old temperature record in the city.
Vancouver
-
Woman repeatedly sent home from Langley Memorial Hospital actually needed emergency surgery
Three times she went to Langley Memorial Hospital's emergency room for help. Three times, she said, she was sent home.
-
Jury retires in Ibrahim Ali's marathon B.C. murder trial
A British Columbia Supreme Court jury has retired to deliberate in the first-degree murder trial of Ibrahim Ali, more than eight months after he pleaded not guilty to killing a 13-year-old girl in a Metro Vancouver park in 2017.
-
Was the order to dismantle a Downtown Eastside homeless encampment legal? Here's what the court decided.
An order by Vancouver's fire chief to clear an encampment on the Downtown Eastside was "unlawful and invalid," according to a lawyer who represented residents in a court challenge of the order.
Edmonton
-
Homicide reported in Westlock County; man and woman found dead
A man and woman in Westlock County were found dead in their home Wednesday morning.
-
Alberta legislature wraps up fall sitting, passes pension-exit legislation
Alberta politicians wrapped up the fall sitting of the legislature in the early hours Thursday, with Premier Danielle Smith's government cutting off debate to pass a bill mandating a referendum be held before the province could quit the Canada Pension Plan.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: 'Cool' end to the week, big warm-up Sunday
No more snow for the next week (or longer) in Edmonton. But, temperatures WILL slip to sub-0 C highs for the first time since Dec. 1.
