People warned to stop stomping on canola crops to take selfies
Two "serious instances" involving people endangering crops to take selfies at a southern Ontario canola farm over the Canada Day long weekend have prompted police to warn the public about the potential consequences of trespassing into crop fields.
The Dufferin Detachment of the OPP says it has seen an increase in trespassing incidents at canola fields in the county, with the most recent happening last weekend in Melancthon Township, located more than 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto.
Police said people stopped their vehicles on the side of Highway 10 and entered canola fields to take photos.
In a news release issued on Monday, police shared a photo showing cars lined up on the side of the highway as several people were seen taking pictures in a canola field.
The plant is in peak full bloom at this time of the year, colouring vast fields yellow, making it a summer attraction for some who want Instagram-worthy photos.
“While Canola is beautiful at this time of year, it is a crop. It is a large part of plant-based diets and a source of income for our farmers,” the OPP said.
“The potential damage to this crop is valued at $2,000 if only one acre is damaged. It will increase if there was a larger area affected.”
Police reminded the public that under the Trespass to Property Act, crop fields are not required to have fences or signage to warn people not to enter. So entering a canola field by foot or on an off-road vehicle is still considered trespassing, even if there are no signs.
"If a person damages crops, then a criminal charge of mischief could be considered by a responding police officer," the OPP said.
Police added that they will continue to monitor the situation but asked for help. The incidents last weekend were not reported immediately, which was why police weren't able to respond on time.
Police urge anyone who sees a similar situation to call 1-888-310-1122 instantly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.