In the news today, Aug. 8

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FIRE RAVAGES TOWN IN NORTHWESTERN B.C.

Wildfires have ravaged 27 structures in Telegraph Creek, representing 30 to 45 per cent of buildings in the small northwestern British Columbia community. Tahltan Band Chief Rick McLean says while the town has sustained significant damage, no lives have been lost. The entire community of Telegraph Creek remains under an evacuation order as more than 460 wildfires burn across the province.

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TORONTO POLICE RESCUE PAIR FROM FLOODED ELEVATOR

Toronto was inundated with heavy rain last night that caused flash flooding and a dramatic elevator rescue. Two men stuck in a flooded basement elevator were rescued by police officers who grabbed a crowbar, swam down to the basement and pried open the elevator to save the men. They were standing on the elevator handrails in six feet of water, with one foot of air space left.

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REPORT SAYS ONTARIO FACING PSYCHIATRIST SHORTAGE

A report from the Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists is urging the provincial government to offer incentives in order to make up for a shortage of psychiatrists. It says the shortage is contributing to a growing mental health crisis across Ontario and the country. The report also says the province should also increase the number of psychiatry residency spots available to medical students.

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STUDY: VICTIMS RELUCTANT TO GIVE RAPE KITS TO COPS

A study indicates only two-thirds of eligible sexual assault survivors choose to undergo a “rape kit” and less than one-third hand over the forensic evidence to police. Researchers at an Ontario hospital with a dedicated emergency department program for victims found many the declined collection of evidence that includes bodily fluids, fingernail scrapings and DNA samples, such as those left on clothing. The study says only 33 in every 1,000 cases of sexual assault are reported to police.

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PARALYZED HUMBOLDT BRONCO WORKING ON SLEDGE HOCKEY

Ryan Straschnitzki, who was paralyzed from the chest down in April’s bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, spent an hour practising sledge hockey yesterday at Calgary’s Winsport Centre. The 19-year-old Albertan said he hopes to become good enough to make the national team and play at the Olympics. Sledge hockey is one of the more popular events at the Winter Paralympic Games.

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HUMPBACKS DELIGHT TOURISTS IN B.C.

Marg Leehane, co-owner of Great Bear Lodge in Port Hardy, B.C., says she decided it was worth waking up the guests at 6 a.m. when a group of humpback whales approached the docks. Leehane shot a video that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times on Instagram and shows the whales leaping from the water mere metres from the tourists on Saturday.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make an announcement at CAE headquarters in Montreal.

— NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will hold a “special event” in Burnaby, B.C.

— Statistics Canada will release the value of building permits for June.

— Companies reporting result today include Magna International, Thomson Reuters, Sun Life and Manulife Financial.

— Calgary court appearance for Dustin Duthie, who is charged with three counts of second-degree murder.

— Ceremony to be held in Halifax to mark the centennial of the Last Hundred Days of the Great War.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Aug. 8

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