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Ukraine: Police across Canada investigate vandalism – CTV News

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Police across Canada are investigating alleged acts of vandalism, theft and even arson against Ukrainian Canadians or those showing their support amid Russia’s invasion of the neighbouring country.

Alexandra Chyczij of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress said these kinds of incidents across Canada are “a growing phenomenon.”

“It’s a very troubling tendency and has frankly a lot of people frightened,” Chyczij told CTV National News’ John Vennavally-Rao.

In Victoria, police are investigating a fire at the home of Yuriy Vyshnevskyy, a Ukrainian Catholic church pastor. Vyshnevskyy, as well as his wife and three young daughters, narrowly escaped the fire that began shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

The pastor told CTV News Vancouver Island that his wife called out to him from the first floor after she noticed someone pouring gasoline into the house through the home’s mail slot.

Vyshnevskyy’s oldest daughter, 11, was injured as the children were passed from a second-storey window to the ground.

“It was hell because I knew that it was the only window out. It was the only way out,” Vyshnevskyy said.

All five family members were treated for smoke inhalation, according to police, and the family’s tabby cat is being treated at a local animal hospital after being found unconscious.

Police said on Wednesday that it was too early to pinpoint a motive, but have not ruled out that it could have been a hate crime. The Vyshnevskyy family had a Ukrainian flag hanging in their front window at the time of the fire.

B.C. Premier John Horgan said at a news conference on Thursday that he hopes the community will rally around the Vyshnevskyy family.

“When it’s potentially an arson, potentially a hate crime … this is certainly something British Columbians don’t expect to wake up to,” he said.

In Levis, Que., Jean Mercier, the owner of a hair salon, was told by a client on April 9 that a black ‘Z’ – a symbol of support for the Russian army – had been spray painted on his building. A Ukrainian flag that he had been displaying was also missing.

And in Kitchener, Ont., local police are investigating after several homemade signs with information on how to donate to Ukraine were defaced with the black ‘Z’ symbol.

“It’s very sad and disappointing,” Dominga Normandeau, whose husband Paul put up the signs in support of Ukraine, told CTV News Kitchener. “The thing is, I don’t know what this ‘Z’ means. I had to go to my husband and ask what this ‘Z’ means. My son is scared because the neighbourhood is quiet, and suddenly some people react like that.”

With files from Todd Coyne, Jennifer K. Baker, and Adam Chan. 

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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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