Victoria firefighters met with 'extremely challenging conditions' battling hotel fire
The City of Victoria says fire crews were met with "extremely challenging conditions" as they battled a blaze at the former Travellers Inn building on Queens Ave.
A statement from the city says part of the building collapsed and heavy machinery was used in a "controlled demolition" of the fire-damaged structure.
Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson says the fire spread rapidly and crews took a "defensive posture" after clearing the building.
Atkinson says he was thankful to other agencies that aided the response, including the Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay fire departments, as well as Victoria Police, paramedics and crews from FortisBC and BC Hydro, calling the blaze a "complex incident."
The city says no firefighters were injured and the building's occupants have been accounted for, but there have been unconfirmed reports of other people in the building.
The statement from the city says the residents and others from a nearby building were evacuated and are getting help from the city's emergency support services, and crews are expected to remain at the scene through the night into Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Winnipeg police suspend use of Crime Stoppers after data breach
Winnipeg police say they've suspended the use of Crime Stoppers in light of a massive data breach of the crime-reporting system.
The pause comes after CBC reported that 1.5 million tips submitted to Canadian Crime Stoppers programs over the last 25 years were stolen earlier this year.
Winnipeg police say they have been made aware that some data related to the city was included in the breach.
They are reviewing the additional safeguards and security measures being implemented by Crime Stoppers.
Other police forces in Canada have also suspended use of the service, including several in the Toronto region.
Crime Stoppers is a community-based intermediary that allows people to anonymously report information about crimes to police.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly wants to build an aluminum rolling mill in Canada
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says new federal investments announced Friday are a first step toward reducing the Canadian aluminum sector's dependence on the United States.
Joly, who is also the minister responsible for economic development in Quebec, made the comments in La Baie, Que., where she announced more than $193 million in federal funding for projects at four Rio Tinto facilities in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and at the Alouette aluminum smelter in Sept-Îles, Que.
“The aluminum industry is much more than an economic driver. It is also a strategic industry for our country and for Canadian sovereignty,” the minister said in her speech.
Citing the economic upheaval caused by tariffs and the unpredictability of the American government, Joly said that “in this new context, we must be able to produce more of what our economy needs right here in Canada.”
She also said the funding is a first step toward strengthening the Canadian aluminum supply chain.
Joly pointed out that the price of aluminum products are inflated first by tariffs when they enter the United States and a second time when that aluminum returns to Canada. The United States imposes a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum, and since Sept. 8, Canada has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on processed aluminum from the United States, resulting in a total surcharge of 100 per cent.
The Canadian tariff imposed in March 2025 was 25 per cent before Sept. 8.
Joly stressed that the government sees aluminum as a strategic sector for the Canadian economy and that she sees the importance of building rolling mills in Canada.
"It’s not normal that most of our aluminum is processed in the United States and then comes back at a higher cost to our companies," she said.
She said several sectors — including agri-food, beverages, and aerospace — need more processed aluminum and have rolling mill projects of their own.
"We want to be able to produce our aluminum cans here at home; we want to be able to produce our aircraft and aerospace parts here at home; and we also want to attract key investments in aluminum processing for our defence sector," Joly said.
On top of providing financial support to producers, she said the government also wants to work with entrepreneurs interested in developing these rolling mills and take on equity stakes.
Ottawa also wants “to be able to offer procurement contracts, certainly defence-related ones, for key components in the aerospace sector, precisely to create a business model that makes sense for a rolling mill,” Joly stated.
“Economic sovereignty isn’t something you proclaim, it’s something you build."
Canada has nine primary aluminum smelters, eight of which are located in Quebec. The other is in British Columbia.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
By Pierre Saint-Arnaud | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Un gros party tout en blanc débarque à Montréal dans un lieu 100 % secret
Bonne bouffe, sparklers, danse et outfits mémorables!
Ta liste d'activités à Montréal vient de s'allonger : le Diner en Blanc (DEB) débarque dans la métropole et ce sera l'occasion parfaite pour célébrer la fin de l'été en beauté. Lors de cet événement gastronomique d’inspiration française et festif à souhait, tenue blanche de la tête aux pieds, pique-nique décadent et soirée dansante sous le ciel étoilé sont au programme.
Les festivités suivant le repas, qui se tiendra dans un lieu tenu secret jusqu’à la dernière minute, seront lancées en allumant des sparklers distribués aux invité.e.s., alors que musique live et ambiance électrisante s'empareront de la place pour cette quatorzième édition.
Que tu sois foodie, fan de mode ou simplement une personne qui aime être dans le feu de l'action, voici quoi savoir sur ce party incontournable en ville.
Avant de te lancer dans la vague de gens qui seront rassemblés afin de célébrer en habit monochrome, note qu'il y a certaines règles à respecter afin de participer.
Les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront donc apporter leur propre repas ainsi que leur vin et leur champagne (les deux seuls types d'alcools permis afin de respecter l'influence française de l'événement), ou réserver l'un des deux menus conçus pour la fête.
Le premier panier est proposé par le chef Laurent Godbout et contient des olives grillées au romarin et orange, une salade de tomates cerises façon ffattoush, du labné à l’avocat avec crudités, des endives à la rémoulade de canard confit, une focaccia à la stracciatella et prosciutto, des pappardelles de carottes marinées au sésame et noix de cajou, du poulet fumé tonato, des câpres frits et roquette ainsi que du fromage de chèvre frais avec compote de pêches grillées. Pour finir avec une touche sucrée, tu pourras te régaler de la panna cotta de maïs avec chocolat blanc et bleuets, ainsi que d'un parfait au chocolat et au caramel à la fleur de sel. Un véritable festin.
Le panier du chef Jérôme Ferrer est tout aussi alléchant avec une verrine de rillettes de saumon à l’érable, un pot de mousse de foie de volaille et foie gras au porto, du popcorn à l’huile de truffe blanche et parmesan, du pain brioché avec beurre truffé, des bols poké au thon rouge et en guise de dessert, un duo de tartelettes au bleuet façon clafoutis et aux poires amandines.
Tu te vois déjà sur place? Alors, ne tarde pas à réserver ta place dès maintenant!
Le Diner en Blanc de Montréal
Prix : À partir de 62 $ par personne pour l'inscription - 95 $ par repas pour deux personnes
Quand : Le 6 septembre 2024
Adresse : Un lieu secret dévoilé quelques minutes avant l’événement
Site Internet du Diner en Blanc