Residents return to homes after north-end Halifax area evacuated due to gas leak

MONTREAL – A museum dedicated to revered Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve is racing to find its stolen bronze statue of the Quebec speedster before it gets melted down for cash.

Alain Bellehumeur, general manager of the Gilles Villeneuve Museum, says the 5 foot 3 inches tall statue was apparently sawed off at the ankles sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday, and he is asking the public for help locating it.

The statue was created in 1984 in tribute of Villeneuve, who participated in 67 Formula One races from 1977 to 1982, winning six before dying in a racing accident while qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at the age of 32.

In 1994 the statue was placed outside the museum dedicated to him in Berthierville, Que., about 70 kilometres northeast of Montreal, where Bellehumeur says the statue became an important part of the community’s cultural heritage.

He says the statue cost $25,000 to built in 1984 and that he is worried the thieves plan to melt it and sell the bronze.

Jules Lasalle, the man who sculpted the statue, says the theft is a major disappointment and hopes it will soon be returned.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – Some buildings and businesses in Halifax are being evacuated due to a natural gas leak affecting a large section of the city’s north end.

A release from the Halifax Regional Police asks people in the densely populated area between Young Street and North Street, and bounded by Windsor Street and Agricola Street, to close their windows.

The release requests that people avoid the area until further notice.

A police spokeswoman said at about 2 p.m. local time that Canada Post, a hardware store and some homes in the area had been evacuated.

An emergency alert from the city said the leak was “currently being contained” and fire crews were on the scene.

It said the scene would be safe once the fire crews have departed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s elections agency is warning the public about an online phishing scam trying to collect personal information.

Elections Nova Scotia communications director Naomi Shelton says the deceptive email is made to look like an official message from the elections agency.

It asks users to click a link to provide personal information in order to receive an online ballot.

Shelton says there is no online voting this election, adding that Elections Nova Scotia does not reach out to voters without solicitation, nor will the agency ask for personal information using email links.

She says she is only aware of Elections Nova Scotia staffers receiving the email and that no members of the public have so far been emailed the phishing scam.

Shelton says anyone who receives the email should treat it as a scam, adding that Elections Nova Scotia has referred the matter to the RCMP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.