Police have identified the five victims killed in a mass shooting at a Vaughan, Ont. condo building that ended with the suspected gunman shot dead by police.
Rita Camilleri, 71, Vittorio Panza, 79, Russell Manock, 75, Lorraine Manock, 71, and Naveed Dada, 59, died as a result of the Sunday shooting at Bellaria Residences, York Regional Police said in a news release Tuesday. Three were members of the building’s condo board, police say.
A sixth victim who was injured in the shooting remains in hospital with serious injuries, police added.
CBC News has verified photos of three of those killed: Naveed Dada, Rita Camilleri and Vittorio Panza, and is working to obtain photos of the two additional victims.
“People are grieving,” said York Regional Police Jim MacSween. “It’s really important for not only us as an organization, but for the community to wrap their arms around these families and help them through this very difficult time.”
The 73-year-old suspected shooter, Francesco Villi, was a resident of the condo and used a semi-automatic handgun on his victims before he was shot dead by a police officer on the third floor, authorities say.
Court documents involving a man with the same name as Villi point to a long history of threatening members of the condo board, which sought to have Villi evicted. The board had a court hearing scheduled on Monday, but the case was stayed following his death.
Other documents show Villi alleged the directors had caused him five years of “torment” and “torture” related to alleged issues with the electrical room below his unit.
Three of the people killed on Sunday night, Rita Camilleri, Russell Manock and Naveed Dada, appear to be named as defendants in a July ruling that dismissed Villi’s accusations against the condo board members as “frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process.”
2 couples among those killed
The families of each victim provided details about their loved ones to police, MacSween said.
Camilleri and Panza were husband and wife.
Camilleri’s family described her as a smart businesswoman with a contagious laugh and zest for life. She loved to travel, cook and host for her loved ones.
“She was a loving daughter, sister, partner and the most caring aunt,” read MacSween.
Police share details of Vaughan condo shooting victims
With permission from their families, York Regional Police chief Jim MacSween shared information about each of the victims in Monday’s deadly condo tower shooting, in remembrance of who they were and how much they meant to their loved ones.
Fellow condo board member Tony Cutrone said Camilleri was sweet, funny and had a smile for everyone. She worked tirelessly in the volunteer board position and worked in real estate before she retired.
“She had so much experience that she brought to the table,” he said. “And she was happy to share that.”
Food was very important to Camilleri and she always wanted to sit and eat supper with her husband, Cutrone added.
Earlier this month she organized a Christmas party for the residents of the condominium. After the party was over she was talking about a barbecue for the residents in June — community and kindness were at her core, Cutrone said.
“I don’t know how we are going to go on without her.”
Vaughan councillor Marilyn Iafrate brings flowers to a memorial near a condo at 9235 Jane St. in Vaughan, where a shooter killed five victims just a few days earlier. (CBC)
Vittorio Panza was a “very proud” Italian immigrant, a well-respected realtor for over 40 years and a kind-hearted, gentle individual with a great passion for music, MacSween said.
“He was a husband, a father to three daughters, and a proud nonno [grandfather] to 7 grandchildren,” said MacSween.
Panza was the grandfather of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Victor Mete. The team said it was “shocked and saddened” by the tragic shooting.
“Our hearts go out to Victor and his family, to all the families and friends of those affected, and to the local community,” the team said in a statement.
Mike Colle, a Toronto city councillor, said Panza worked on some of his campaigns.
“He was your proud, hardworking immigrant Italian father and grandfather,” he said, adding Panza was always impeccably dressed and loved to watch hockey and baseball.
The death has left Colle shaken, he said, and has affected Vaughan’s tight-knit Italian community.
‘Unspeakable tragic loss’
Russell Manock was described as the most hardworking, caring and loving father and grandfather who cherished “every moment” he spent with his loved ones.
“Trusted and loved by everyone who knew him, he was their family rock,” said MacSween.
Loraine Manock, meanwhile, was a selfless, generous and kind soul that “touched every person’s lives” she met.
The couple were dedicated to each other and their family, he said.
“Soulmates in life and now in heaven, the family are devastated by this unspeakable tragic loss,” said MacSween.
Naveed Dada, meanwhile, was a son and a brother who spent half his life in Canada.
“Naveed always wanted to serve his community and help those in need,” said MacSween.
Dada, meanwhile, was remembered as a peacemaker by his fellow board member Cutrone.
“Naveed is mister smiley,” Cutrone said. “He is always trying to make peace.”
‘I was the likely target’
That victim — a 66-year-old woman — is expected to live, her husband announced Tuesday.
John Di Nino, the condominium board’s president, said his wife Doreen is in stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery Monday, but she has a long road to recovery. While physical injuries should heal, he’s worried about long-lasting trauma from the shooting.
He says he was in his condo when the gunman showed up at the door and opened fire on his wife. He remembers scrambling over to help her after Villi allegedly shot her with a bullet he believes was meant for him.
“I was the likely target, not my wife,” Di Nino said. “But he moved on after shooting her. That’s the thing that is running through my head right now.”
Husband of injured victim calls for tighter gun control following mass shooting in Vaughan, Ont.
John Di Nino, whose wife was injured in a mass shooting in Vaughan, Ont. on Sunday, says his family ‘is in shambles over a senseless act of violence.’ He’s now hoping the incident will be a catalyst for conversations around gun control and mental health.
Their home remains a crime scene days after the shooting. Di Nino is spending most of his time by Doreen’s side, but says he isn’t sure they can move back to condo when she’s ready to leave the hospital.
Di Nino, who’s also the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada, said he believes the gunman targeted his home because of a long-standing dispute with the condominium board, who were all volunteers. He said all the victims who died were his friends.
“Our family has been put in shambles over a senseless act of violence that could’ve been avoided,” said Di Nino, his voice faltering.
Di Nino says the incident needs to spur a discussion around mental health and gun control.
“We have been dealing with this on the board for four years. Things could’ve changed, it didn’t have to get to this point.”
Community grieves, supports residents
At the Vaughan building located north of Toronto, many are still shaken by what happened Sunday.
Resident Patricia Acara said she has been checking in regularly with residents and staff at her complex, where many residents were brought when the condo was evacuated.
“We’re trying to get through this,” Acara said. “We’re gonna stick together as a community. I think we’re going to become a lot closer.”
Bouquets of flowers had been placed in the snow outside the condo Tuesday. A forensic identification unit truck was parked by the main doors, where police tape could still be seen.
Vaughan councillor Marilyn Iafrate dropped flowers by a memorial near the condo complex — one bunch for each of the five victims killed.
“How can this possibly happen?” said Iafrate.
“We all have issues, we all have things we don’t like … but to go to this extreme to resolve an issue is just unfathomable.”
Mayor of Vaughan Steven Del Duca said that he’s asked facilities across the city to lower their flags to half-mast until further notice in memory of the victims.
The Special Investigations Unit, which is called to probe police-involved fatalities in Ontario, is still investigating the incident.
An autopsy for the alleged gunman will take place Wednesday, the SIU says.
York Regional Police have said they are working to determine the motive in what they’ve called a “horrendous” shooting.
VANCOUVER – Contract negotiations resume today in Vancouver in a labour dispute that has paralyzed container cargo shipping at British Columbia’s ports since Monday.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are scheduled to meet for the next three days in mediated talks to try to break a deadlock in negotiations.
The union, which represents more than 700 longshore supervisors at ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo, has been without a contract since March last year.
The latest talks come after employers locked out workers in response to what it said was “strike activity” by union members.
The start of the lockout was then followed by several days of no engagement between the two parties, prompting federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to speak with leaders on both sides, asking them to restart talks.
MacKinnon had said that the talks were “progressing at an insufficient pace, indicating a concerning absence of urgency from the parties involved” — a sentiment echoed by several business groups across Canada.
In a joint letter, more than 100 organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and associations representing industries from automotive and fertilizer to retail and mining, urged the government to do whatever it takes to end the work stoppage.
“While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement,” the letter says. “So, the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption.
“We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.”
In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board against the employers, alleging the association threatened to pull existing conditions out of the last contract in direct contact with its members.
“The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically elected leadership and bargaining committee — despite the fact that the BCMEA knows full well we received a 96 per cent mandate to take job action if needed,” union president Frank Morena said in a statement.
The employers have responded by calling the complaint “another meritless claim,” adding the final offer to the union that includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term remains on the table.
“The final offer has been on the table for over a week and represents a fair and balanced proposal for employees, and if accepted would end this dispute,” the employers’ statement says. “The offer does not require any concessions from the union.”
The union says the offer does not address the key issue of staffing requirement at the terminals as the port introduces more automation to cargo loading and unloading, which could potentially require fewer workers to operate than older systems.
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada and has seen a number of labour disruptions, including two instances involving the rail and grain storage sectors earlier this year.
A 13-day strike by another group of workers at the port last year resulted in the disruption of a significant amount of shipping and trade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
The Royal Canadian Legion says a new partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon is helping boost its veterans’ fund, and will hopefully expand its donor base in the digital world.
Since the Oct. 25 launch of its Amazon.ca storefront, the legion says it has received nearly 10,000 orders for poppies.
Online shoppers can order lapel poppies on Amazon in exchange for donations or buy items such as “We Remember” lawn signs, Remembrance Day pins and other accessories, with all proceeds going to the legion’s Poppy Trust Fund for Canadian veterans and their families.
Nujma Bond, the legion’s national spokesperson, said the organization sees this move as keeping up with modern purchasing habits.
“As the world around us evolves we have been looking at different ways to distribute poppies and to make it easier for people to access them,” she said in an interview.
“This is definitely a way to reach a wider number of Canadians of all ages. And certainly younger Canadians are much more active on the web, on social media in general, so we’re also engaging in that way.”
Al Plume, a member of a legion branch in Trenton, Ont., said the online store can also help with outreach to veterans who are far from home.
“For veterans that are overseas and are away, (or) can’t get to a store they can order them online, it’s Amazon.” Plume said.
Plume spent 35 years in the military with the Royal Engineers, and retired eight years ago. He said making sure veterans are looked after is his passion.
“I’ve seen the struggles that our veterans have had with Veterans Affairs … and that’s why I got involved, with making sure that the people get to them and help the veterans with their paperwork.”
But the message about the Amazon storefront didn’t appear to reach all of the legion’s locations, with volunteers at Branch 179 on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive saying they hadn’t heard about the online push.
Holly Paddon, the branch’s poppy campaign co-ordinator and bartender, said the Amazon partnership never came up in meetings with other legion volunteers and officials.
“I work at the legion, I work with the Vancouver poppy office and I go to the meetings for the Vancouver poppy campaign — which includes all the legions in Vancouver — and not once has this been mentioned,” she said.
Paddon said the initiative is a great idea, but she would like to have known more about it.
The legion also sells a larger collection of items at poppystore.ca.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
