GTA welcomes 200 northwestern Ontario wildfire evacuees, rescue efforts ongoing
About 200 northwestern Ontario residents fleeing active forest fires landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport last night, and more evacuees continue to arrive today.
Brent Ross, spokesperson for the Solicitor General’s Office, confirmed to CTV News Toronto that residents from Cat Lake First Nation left their homes to escape the fires and are currently being hosted in Mississauga and Peel Region.
Ross said more evacuees are expected to arrive later today, but he could not speculate on the number of incoming travellers due to the “fluid nature” of firefighting efforts.
“The ministry would like to thank Peel Region and the City of Mississauga as well as the many community organizations for assisting the evacuees during this difficult time,” Ross said in a statement to CTV News Toronto.
Evacuation efforts have prioritized vulnerable populations, including those who would be most impacted by the safety concerns associated with wildfire smoke, Ross said.
Northwestern Ontario residents arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport on July 23, 2021. CTV/ Tom Podolec.
In addition, four other communities have been evacuated. Deer Lake First Nation and Poplar Hill First Nation residents have fully vacated, amounting to 898 and 647 people displaced, respectively. Like Cat Lake First Nation, efforts to evacuate North Spirit Lake First Nation residents is ongoing.
Approximately 1,096 people have left Pikangikum First Nation and 99 have departed from North Spirit Lake First Nation.
The Solicitor General’s Office says the province will continue to work with First Nation communities, municipalities, the federal government and the NGO sector to ensure anyone impacted by the wildfires is protected.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.