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Anti-racism group calls for investigation into OPP recruit evaluations
OPP recruits allege racial discrimination: group
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
An anti-racism organization is calling for an investigation into how Ontario's provincial police force assesses new recruits, as three Black recruits allege they faced racial discrimination during their year of probation.
The Black Class Action Secretariat says it wants the province's inspector general of policing to examine Ontario Provincial Police probationary evaluation and coaching practices as well as probationary outcome data across the force to look for racial disparities.
The group's director of advocacy says that while the OPP has an internal office that aims to ensure its policies and practices are inclusive, "the question is whether that commitment reaches the coach officer's notebook, the probation file, and the release decisions."
In a news conference today at the provincial legislature, Alain Babineau said there are people within police ranks quietly deciding "who belongs in uniform and who does not."
The call for an investigation comes as the non-profit says three Black recruits stationed in different regions faced a "strikingly similar pattern of discrimination." The OPP says it's looking into those concerns.
The secretariat says the recruits, who are sharing the allegations under pseudonyms under fear of reprisals, were mocked and penalized for their accents and communication styles and disciplined for behaviours common among white officers.
Two of the recruits were dismissed before the end of their probation period, while the other remains on medical leave, the group said.
A spokesperson for the OPP said the force acknowledges the concerns raised by the Black Class Action Secretariat on behalf of the three recruits.
"We take these matters seriously and are reviewing the various concerns brought forth," Staff Sgt. Joe Brisebois said in an email.
The force can't comment on specifics when it comes to employment-related matters, he said.
"What we can say is that the OPP is dedicated to ensuring open, accessible, equitable and respectful workplaces, and is committed to reflecting the diverse communities it serves," as well as ensuring a workplace that fosters a safe and inclusive environment, he said.
"We do not condone or tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind."
The Inspectorate of Policing, an independent oversight office that opened in 2024, acknowledged The Canadian Press's request for comment Wednesday but did not immediately provide one.
One of the recruits, who used the pseudonym Paul, said Wednesday he has two master's degrees and excelled at the police college, but found himself ridiculed and judged for the way he spoke after joining a detachment in the province's southeast.
"I caught my coach officer and my colleagues ridiculing me. A dispatcher joked on the record about my accent affecting a radio call," he said, phoning into the news conference.
"When I tried to discuss it, it was used against me," he said.
Paul said he was one of three Black officers in his detachment and was released from his position after 10 months. The experience changed his career, he said, adding he is "still trying to heal from the mistreatment and discrimination."
Another of the recruits going by the pseudonym Peter said he "immediately felt isolated" after reporting for duty at a detachment in central Ontario.
"My sergeant would make fun of how I pronounced some words, asking me to repeat things in front of my colleagues so everyone could laugh," he said in a call played at the news conference.
"I wasn't coached at all, it just felt like I was being watched to be documented."
Peter said he was reprimanded for using his phone's GPS to navigate the city when it was a "common practice" among his white colleagues.
The stress eventually caught up with him, and he went on medical leave in the spring, questioning whether to continue on this career path, he said.
Organizers also shared a statement on behalf of the third recruit, who went by the name John. John said he spent a decade in the human service field before becoming an officer, and was stationed at a detachment in southwestern Ontario — the only Black recruit in his platoon.
"I felt there was no trust or confidence in me from Day One," the statement said. "It felt like not only did they expect me to fail, they wanted me to fail."
He also faced reprimand for using his phone GPS when others were doing the same without issue, and at one point had his driving privileges taken away without explanation, he said.
John said he was let go two weeks before the end of his probation, on grounds that he was not a good fit. "What it really meant was that I didn't belong, that they didn't see me as one of them, that they didn't want me there," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Paola Loriggio | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Quebec police investigating after man in 40s killed in Sorel-Tracy, Que.
Man in his 40s killed in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Quebec provincial police are investigating after a man in his 40s was killed Tuesday evening in Sorel-Tracy, Que., northeast of Montreal.
Police say emergency services were called around 9:30 p.m. to Chemin des Patriotes, where a man had been shot.
The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No arrests have been made.
Provincial police said it launched an investigation, but declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the murder or a possible motive.
Though police confirmed that there have been several cases of arson near the murder scene in recent days, they said it's too early to establish any links.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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New southern resident killer whale calf spotted in waters near B.C.
Calf born to southern resident killer whale pod
The endangered southern resident killer whale population has increased by one after a calf was spotted in waters near British Columbia.
The Center for Whale Research says in an email statement that the new calf was first spotted on Monday with its mother, designated J35 by researchers.
The centre's researchers then spotted the mother and calf again on Tuesday and determined the "very young" whale is a male likely less than a week old.
The calf has been designated J65 and is J35's sixth documented calf, her first being born in 2010.
The centre says J35 previously lost calves, and was seen carrying a dead calf for 17 days in 2018, while another calf born in 2024 did not survive.
Researchers say J65 shows no health issues and is "moving well, socializing, and nursing," but only about half of all calves survive their first year.
Another southern resident, J31, was spotted with a dead calf earlier this month near Sombro Point on Vancouver Island.
The centre says that as of July, the population of Southern Residents was 76.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Clodelle répond aux commentaires concernant les circonstances du décès de Karim Ouellet
« On a été une bonne gang à ne pas dormir, être inquiets… »
Dans les derniers jours, plusieurs personnalités publiques ont partagé un lien où leurs abonné.es peuvent leur poser des questions de façon anonyme. La chanteuse et candidate d'OD Dans L'Ouest, Clodelle, a participé au mouvement et a répondu à une question liée aux commentaires qui circulent concernant le décès de Karim Ouellet.
C'est le 17 janvier 2022 que le chanteur de 37 ans a été retrouvé sans vie dans son studio de musique à Québec. Quelques mois plus tard, soit le 22 juin, le rapport d'investigation du coroner est sorti, révélant les circonstances du décès.
« Le décès serait survenu le 15 novembre 2021 », peut-on lire dans le document suite aux résultats obtenus lors du l'autopsie du 19 janvier. La perte de Karim aurait donc été découverte deux mois après son départ, ce qui a suscité plusieurs questionnements chez les fans de l'artiste.
C'est donc lors de la séance de questions et réponses publiée en stories sur son profil Instagram que Clodelle a reçu un message au sujet de ces événements :
« En fait, je ne comprends pas... Tu dis que c'était ton meilleur ami, mais pourquoi n'as-tu pas pris de nouvelles de lui avant qu'il soit retrouvé? Il n'y a aucun jugement dans ma question, seulement beaucoup d'incompréhension [...]. »
Sans trop vouloir entrer dans les détails, la chanteuse a alors répondu que ce genre de propos la dérange :
« Je vais juste frôler le sujet par respect de Karim et sa famille, mais notre ami était malade. Il avait par moments des difficultés à accepter sa maladie et par moment, même prendre soin de lui-même. C'était quelqu'un qui était très fier et très discret.
« Pas longtemps avant sa mort, il a coupé les ponts avec tout son entourage, par choix. Quand je dis tout, c'est tout. On a été une bonne gang à ne pas dormir, être inquiets, se sentir démunis et tristes de ne pas avoir de nouvelles... », a ajouté Clodelle.
Elle a ensuite remercié les gens de conserver leurs jugements :
« Je sais que nous sommes des personnalités publiques, mais on traverse des difficultés aussi et c'est correct de ne pas vouloir tout partager et médiatiser. »
Suite à son départ, plusieurs vedettes québécoises ont tenu à rendre hommage au chanteur à travers différents textes et images. Clodelle a d'ailleurs participé au spectacle hommage Bye Bye Bye Karim le 12 juin dernier aux Francos de Montréal, aux côtés d'artistes tel.les que Ariane Moffatt, Hubert Lenoir, Claude Bégin et le groupe Alaclair Ensemble.