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Man accused of being Russian spy in Norway attended universities in Ottawa, Calgary

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A man arrested in Norway who is suspected of being a Russian spy has ties to Canada.

Norwegian authorities arrested Jose Assis Giammaria on Monday on suspicion of being an “illegal,” a term that describes someone who is in the country with a false name and false identity.

Police allege Giammaria, described as a Brazilian researcher in the Norwegian press, is actually Russian and works for a Russian intelligence service as a spy.

His lawyer, Thomas Hansen, told Verdens Gang AS news agency in Norway that Giammaria denies the accusations and is in shock.

A 2015 convocation program from Ottawa’s Carleton University shows Jose Assis Giammaria graduated with a bachelor of arts in political science with a concentration in international relations and a minor in communications studies.

Sean Devine, who was recently elected as an Ottawa city councillor, said he remembers Giammaria as a canvasser on a campaign for the federal NDP in 2015.

“I didn’t know he was what people are saying he is,” Devine said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “He was the same as any other volunteer on my team.”

Devine said Giammaria was a good volunteer and the only thing that was unusual about him was that he wasn’t from Ottawa.

The University of Calgary said in a statement that Giammaria attended the Alberta school and graduated in the fall of 2018 with a master of strategic studies, a degree program that shares content with programs in political science, history, and international relations.

“Students in this program are taught by professors and instructors — not military professionals — to build a well-rounded understanding of the drivers of military, security, and strategic decision-making,” said the statement.

“No access to information is provided that any other student in any other program wouldn’t have.”

David Bercuson, who was director of the University of Calgary’s Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies in 2018 and is now director emeritus, said he doesn’t remember Giammaria.

“I don’t know anything about him,” he said in an email. “I truly don’t.”

Gunhild Hoogensen Gjorv, who works in security studies at the Arctic University of Norway, told VG that Giammaria contacted her for work at the school.

She said he received a lot of praise from people in Canada.

When asked whether he knew who in Canada may have provided a reference for Giammaria, Bercuson said he wasn’t sure.

“I really don’t know. I don’t know how well he did and I couldn’t reveal that information if I did,” he said. “I just don’t remember the guy at all.”

The University of Calgary referred other questions to the federal government.

No one from Immigration Canada or Global Affairs Canada responded to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2022.

 

Colette Derworiz and Angela Amato, The Canadian Press

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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