All weather watches and warnings issued for Ottawa lifted as Canada Day celebrations wrapped up Saturday night, after Mother Nature temporarily shut down the birthday celebrations with heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier in the day.
Canadian Heritage suspended events at LeBreton Flats and on Parliament Hill during the afternoon, while Canada Day festivities in the suburbs were temporarily postponed due to the rain. Canadian Heritage went ahead with the evening show at LeBreton Flats, including the fireworks.
As of 10:30 p.m., all warnings had ended for the city of Ottawa. Earlier in the day, Ottawa was under a severe thunderstorm watch, a severe thunderstorm warning, a tornado watch and a special air quality statement.
The forecast calls for a cloudy evening in Ottawa with a chance of showers. Low 19 C.
A severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect Saturday night for Brockville, Prescott, Kemptville, Prescott-Russell and the Cornwall-Morrisburg areas.
Environment Canada said conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms.
A special air quality statement ended for Ottawa Saturday evening, as the smoky air from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec moved out of the region.
The air quality health index (AQHI) at 7p.m. was measured at 3, or “low risk.”
The air quality is expected to improve on Sunday and Monday to a 3 – “low risk.”
Canadian Heritage postponed the afternoon events at LeBreton Flats due to the severe thunderstorms. As of 6:30 p.m., Canadian Heritage said the evening show at LeBreton Flats was proceeding, with fireworks at 10 p.m.
The Beacon Hill Community Association has cancelled tonight’s fireworks in Loyola Park. The fireworks in Dunrobin have also been cancelled.
Fireworks have been postponed in Kanata tonight due to the weather. Organizers of the Kanata Canada Day celebration say the fireworks will take place on Sunday, July 2 at 10 p.m. at Walter Baker Park.
Canada Day celebrations will proceed with fireworks this evening at Petrie Island and in Barrhaven. The Riverside South Community Association says fireworks are still scheduled for tonight.
The Greely Community Association says fireworks are still set for 10 p.m. at the Greely Community Centre.
Canada Day festivities in Stittsville resumed Saturday evening, with fireworks still scheduled.
Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says weather will be on people’s minds today in Ottawa, with a risk of thunderstorms, but unsettled conditions may vary depending on where you are in the city.
“It’s not going to be a washout,” he told Newstalk 580 CFRA. “It’s going to be more localized here and there. Some neighbourhoods may not get any precipitation or threatening weather and others may get into the severe, where they’ve got to worry about large hail or heavy rain.”
He also expects the weather will improve the air quality in Ottawa.
“We had a very high index last night and I think it will be more moderate today and by midnight it will be low, so whatever weather we get will help to clear out the air,” he said. “I think the smoke will be there, it will be present, but not in the toxic, unhealthy kind of levels you’ve seen in Ottawa for so much of June, but we’re going to start July off with a bit of smoke.”
Saturday night’s forecast includes a 70 per cent chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm with local smoke in the evening and overnight. The low is 18 C.
Phillips said it’s important to keep your eye on the sky and be prepared for rain, but don’t let it stop you from celebrating.
“I don’t think it should spoil your Canada Day in the nation’s capital,” he said. “I can’t say for sure what the firework situation will be, it’ll all depend on local situations at the time, but they may very well be able to squeeze those in between showers.”
Canadian Heritage spokesperson Melanie Brault told Newstalk 580 CFRA just before 8 a.m. that the current plan is to go ahead with fireworks, but last-minute changes may be required if the weather changes.
Sunday’s outlook is cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm. The high is 24 C with a humidex of 32.
A chance of showers is in the forecast for Monday with a high of 25 C.
Tuesday is looking cloudy with a small chance of showers and a high of 29 C.
Wednesday could see a high in the low 30s.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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