Latest news with #Brantford
CBC
2 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
Lacrosse team Toronto Rock returning to Hamilton, to play at newly renamed TD Coliseum
Social Sharing The Toronto Rock are officially coming back to Hamilton. The six-time National Lacrosse League champions announced this week that they'll return to the city for the 2025–26 season and play out of the newly renamed TD Coliseum — formerly FirstOntario Centre — following major renovations. "We're excited to return home to Hamilton and play in front of our fans in a venue that will deliver a world-class experience to the Rock City faithful," said Jamie Dawick, the team's owner, president and general manager, in a news release. "December can't come soon enough." The Rock first moved to Hamilton in 2021 but temporarily relocated to the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga during the overhaul. In three regular seasons at the Hamilton arena, the team posted a 21-6 home record. Despite the return to Hamilton, the team's name will remain the same, the team's director of communications Mike Hancock said Friday. Renovations prompted sports teams to leave Several other teams were also displaced by the arena's closure in late 2023. The OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs — originally the Belleville Bulls — moved to Hamilton in 2015 but temporarily relocated to the Brantford Civic Centre in early 2023. That move became permanent in January 2025, when NHL player Zach Hyman and his family purchased the team and signed a 15‑year memorandum of understanding, anchoring the Bulldogs in Brantford. There have been no public announcements suggesting a return to Hamilton. The Hamilton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League also left the city, moving to Brampton in late 2022, where they remain under new ownership. CBC Hamilton reached out to the team but did not receive a response before publication. The moves underscore how the arena's multi-million-dollar redevelopment has reshaped Hamilton's sports landscape. While the Rock's return signals renewed activity at the venue, Hamilton's basketball and junior hockey teams have since established long-term homes elsewhere. The new TD Coliseum is expected to reopen later this year and become a major entertainment hub for Hamilton. The arena will feature premium seating, improved acoustics, next-generation tech for food and beverage service, and enhanced concourses, said Oak View Group.
CTV News
15 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
How is strawberry season shaping up?
CTV's Karis Mapp explains why strawberry fans may have to dig deep this year and why farmers are watching out for a fungal threat. Summer is here and some strawberry lovers are eager to head out into the field and get their pick of the juiciest berries. But this year, strawberry enthusiasts may have to work a little harder to find the delectable delight. Last week the team at Brantwood Farms in Brantford warned pickers that the crop was less than overwhelming. 'We were really keen on how many strawberries we thought we had, but when we went to pick them, we realized we didn't have as many as we thought we had,' Andrew Pate from Brantwood Farms said. In a social media post on June 20, Brantwood Farms wrote, 'Strawberry picking is VERY light. We have not had the heat needed for the strawberries to ripen.' However, their luck changed as a heatwave hit the area. 'Everything started to come on all at the same time, and now we can't pick them fast enough,' Pate told CTV News on Friday. Strawberry Brantwood Farms Strawberries sat in baskets at Brantwood Farms in Brantford, Ont. on June 27, 2025. (Karis Mapp/CTV News) 'We still have lots of strawberries out there. It does just take you a little bit longer to find them than some years we have in the past. But, we haven't had too many people not able to fill their baskets yet.' Some eager fans were out in the field searching for the best berries. 'You really have to dig deep,' strawberry picker Meghan Hill advised. 'You really have to look under the leaves and pick it from the bottom.' 'They're a bit on the small side,' fellow picker Justin Hale said. 'We have noticed that.' But Justin said it was all part of the fun. 'It's like a treasure hunt. Right?' he said. Strawberry Brantwood Farms Strawberries from Brantwood Farms were pictured on June 27, 2025. (Karis Mapp/CTV News) Keeping an eye on a fungal threat The weather is not the only factor farmers are closely watching. A fungal disease, Neopestalotiopsis, is threatening some strawberry crops across the country. 'The plants gradually start to wilt and they eventually die,' Youbin Zheng, professor at the University of Guelph, said. 'That's going to reduce your yields, and you may not have any harvest.' There is no known cure for the disease, and it can spread quickly from plant to plant. A fungicide can keep it at bay, but it can't eliminate it completely. 'If you have rain underneath the infected [plants] you can splash to another plant,' Zheng said. Strawberry Brantwood Farms Strawberries from Brantwood Farms were pictured on June 27, 2025. (Karis Mapp/CTV News) Neopestalotiopsis was first reported in Florida in 2017. Since then, it has been found in Mexico and Canada. The first recorded Canadian case was in Ontario in 2020. 'We are aware of it. We haven't found it in our field yet,' Pate said. 'We are scouting for it. We are worried about it. Haven't found it yet, which is a good thing.' With files from Daniel Otis and Karis Mapp.
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Person exposed to rabid bat in Brant County
A bat is seen mid-flight in this generic image from Getty. (Source: Getty Images) A person has come into contact with a rabid bat in Brant County. In a news release on Friday, the Grand Erie Public Health Unit said the bat was found in Brantford-Brant and tested positive for the rabies virus. Someone who was exposed to the animal is now receiving post exposed rabies prophylaxis, including rabies immune globulin and a series of vaccines. Rabies can be contracted through bites or scratches from an infected animal, such as a fox, raccoon, skunk or bat. It is spread through saliva and mucous. The rabies illness can be prevented in human if they seek immediate medical treatment. Interventions must be administered before symptoms begin. It can take days or even months for symptoms to appear. However, once symptoms begin to show, an infected person will usually die within seven to 14 days. Rabies symptoms include fever, tiredness, headaches, anxiety or irritability, tingling and numbness. Eventually, an infected person's brain will begin to swell, and they may become confused and experience seizures and hallucinations. They may also become afraid of water and fresh air or drafts. Last year, a child died after they came into contact with a rabid bat. The Brant County Health Unit, which is now a part of the Grand Erie Public Health Unit, confirmed the infection in early September. According to Public Health Ontario, it was the first case of domestic human rabies recorded since 1967. They believe the infection stemmed from a bat the child encountered in the Timiskaming Region.
CTV News
21 hours ago
- CTV News
Vehicle crashes through Brantford cannabis store
Significant damage was done to a Highlife Cannabis in Brantford follow a vehicle going through the front window, June 27, 2025 (Karis Mapp/CTV News). The Brantford Police Service is investigating after a vehicle plowed through a cannabis store early Friday morning. Police said the vehicle was in connection to a break-and-enter which happened sometime overnight. Police were unable to provide further details but confirmed they are investigating the incident. A photo shows 'Highlife Cannabis' located on Stanley Street with a hole in the front of the store and repairs being completed. CTV News spoke with staff at 'Highlife Cannabis' but they refused to comment. The manager had confirmed the incident happened and said no one was hurt.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Brantford police locate missing 11-year-old girl
Vehicle outside the headquarters of the Brantford Police Service on May 12, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) The Brantford Police Service has located an 11-year-old girl who was reported missing on Thursday afternoon. She was last spotted walking in the Blackburn Drive and English Lane area around 3:50 p.m. Police said she was located safely.
