One person dead after morning shooting in Toronto’s Weston neighbourhood

TORONTO – A monument to honour residential school survivors is set to be unveiled in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square today.

It’s one of dozens of events in Ontario marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including a ceremony on Parliament Hill.

The new spirit garden in front of Toronto’s city hall comes in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call for governments to establish publicly accessible, highly visible monuments honouring survivors and thousands of children who died in residential schools.

The garden’s centrepiece is a large turtle sculpture positioned in a reflecting pool that has the names of the 18 residential schools that once operated in Ontario inscribed on its north wall.

Beginning in the 19th century, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were separated from their families and communities and sent to church-run residential schools, where abuse, malnutrition and inadequate health care were rampant.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission found the school system, which operated for more than 150 years, was a central element of a state-backed policy that attempted cultural genocide.

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict says the lasting intergenerational impacts of the schools “must never be forgotten.”

“Our unique Nations and cultures exist today because survivors of the residential school system fought to keep them alive — often in the face of serious personal harm,” Abrams said in a statement.

“They passed on the traditions, languages and teachings these institutions sought to destroy so that all of us today know who we are, where we come from and how we got here.”

Monday is also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day recognizing the effects of residential schools.

The initiative began in 2013, inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story of having the orange shirt her grandmother gave her taken away when she arrived at a residential school in 1973 at the age of six.

In a statement, Premier Doug Ford said a number of Ontario government buildings would be lit orange. He encouraged people to “learn more and reflect on this dark and disturbing period in our country’s history and acknowledge the intergenerational harm it has caused.”

The day is a federal statutory holiday, but not a provincial one in Ontario.

New Democrat deputy leader Sol Mamakwa, the only First Nation representative at the provincial legislature, said he aims to table legislation in his own Indigenous language to have the day declared a paid provincial holiday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2024.

— With files from Liam Casey.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

The son of a Canadian couple killed during Israeli strikes on Lebanon last week says Ottawa must do more to help citizens leave the country as fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group intensifies.

Kamal Tabaja says his 75-year-old father Hussein Tabaja and 70-year-old mother Daad Tabaja were trying to flee their southern Lebanon village last Monday when an Israeli bomb strike hit their car.

He says their bodies were officially identified at a hospital on Saturday through DNA testing, and they were buried later that day.

Kamal Tabaja says his Canadian brother and other family members are struggling to find a safe route out of Lebanon as the conflict escalates.

Tabaja says Canada should take further measures to evacuate the thousands of citizens who are still in the country, such as sending its own military planes or boats.

Some European countries began pulling diplomats and citizens out of Lebanon on Monday, with Germany using a military plane, while Global Affairs Canada has so far focused on securing seats for Canadians on the limited commercial flights that are still available.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has said it’s believed about 45,000 Canadians are in Lebanon, even though only about half that number have registered officially with the embassy in Beirut.

— with files from The Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

MADRID – World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann, one of France’s most influential players over the past decade, took the soccer world by surprise Monday when he announced the end of his international career with Les Bleus.

The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid forward, affectionately nicknamed “Grizou” by his supporters, has played 137 matches with France, scoring 44 goals during a successful 10-year tenure.

Griezmann — Atletico’s s all-time record scorer — started with France in 2014 in a friendly match against the Netherlands then quickly established himself as a stalwart of the team coached by Didier Deschamps with his versatile talent and influence as both a goalscorer and an assist provider.

Only two players, Hugo Lloris and Lilian Thuram, have played more international games with France than Griezmann.

“It’s with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life,” Griezmann said in a message posted on Instagram. “Thank you for this wonderful tricolor adventure and see you soon.”

Griezmann is fourth on France’s list of all-time scorers behind Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe. He played a key role in helping France to a runner-up finish at the 2016 European Championship, where he was the player of the tournament, won the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League three years later with his French teammates.

“After 10 incredible years, marked by challenges, successes and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation,” he said. “I was lucky enough to experience some incredible moments alongside some exceptional teammates. We have shared victories that will remain forever engraved in our memories.”

Deschamps praised Griezmann’s collective spirit and lauded a “selflessness that is rare among attacking players.” In addition to his attacking skills, Griezmann is also rated for his ability to defend and sense of sacrifice.

“Even if his club career is not over, Antoine was and will remain a monument to French football, one of the greatest players in its history,” Deschamps said in a message relayed by the French soccer federation. “In addition to his 44 goals and 30 assists, his contribution to the results we have achieved over the last decade is immense.”

After a disappointing showing at the European Championship earlier this year, where France lost in the semifinals, Griezmann had lost some of his influence in Deschamps’ team. His final appearance in the France kit was in September in a 2-0 win over Belgium in a Nations League match when he came on as a late substitute.

Although Griezmann has admitted he struggled at the Euros, he was expected to keep on playing with France until the 2026 World Cup.

In his retirement message, Griezmann thanked Deschamps for his support over the last decade despite the coach’s decision to make Mbappe France captain ahead of him last year following Lloris’ retirement. Griezmann had previously said Deschamps’ snub had been difficult to stomach.

“It has often been said that Antoine was my darling,” Deschamps said. “We had indeed forged a very strong relationship, which will remain intact. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, my Grizou.”

Griezmann didn’t say how long he’ll continue with his club career. His contract with Atletico runs until 2026.

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AP soccer:

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