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Hamilton Spectator
5 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Safety & Crime Prevention Walk strolls through Kingsville's waterfront area
As of January 1, 2019, the Safer Ontario Act, 2018 has required municipalities to prepare and adopt community safety and well-being plans in partnership with a multi-sectoral advisory committee. The plan for Windsor-Essex had to be submitted and endorsed by City and County Councils by December 31, 2021. The Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan was developed to intervene before an incident occurs and prevent risks. As part of this initiative, neighbourhood safety and crime prevention walks are being held in various parts of the region, where municipal leaders, safety experts, and residents walk through their community and look at it through a crime prevention lens. This gives those experts an opportunity to go over practical strategies that can lead to improved feelings of safety and prevent crimes from occurring, such as vandalism. So far, three of these walks have taken place in the Town of Essex, with events strolling through Essex Centre and Harrow in 2022, and Colchester towards the end of 2024. Most recently, one was held along Kingsville's waterfront where members of the OPP, Kingsville Council members and staff, City of Windsor staff, and Kingsville residents toured the area with Barry Horrobin, Director of Planning and Physical Resource with the Windsor Police Service. Participants were able to meet up at the Mettawas Park Gazebo that evening, where residents were first treated to some pizza, before heading out on the walk where they learned how they could prevent opportunities for crime, change the way they see and walk through their neighbourhood, and learn personal safety tips. The Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan includes four priorities, developed through community and stakeholder engagement: Good Governance, Engaged and Safe Communities, Mental Health and Substance-Use Supports, and Financial Security and Economic Equity. It also prevents crime through environmental design. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) 'draws heavily on the known relationship between physical planning and criminal opportunity to optimally design the landscape in a manner that deters a person from engaging in unlawful activity,' the Windsor Essex Regional Community Safety & Well-being Plan guidebook notes. It highlights how landscaping can be used to help reduce acts of crime and disorder, how to reduce vulnerability to entry by unauthorized individuals, using natural surveillance to maximize visibility, decreasing criminal opportunity through limited or controlled access to property or facilities, establishing territoriality, and encouraging legitimate activity in public spaces. Kingsville Councillor Sheri Lowrie spoke of the importance of proactively designing neighbourhoods with safety and wellbeing top of mind. 'We want to make little ones feel safe,' she said of communities and public spaces. 'I look forward to learning along with you.' Essex County OPP Constable Chris Ciliska led the walk. He noted some of the things that can be done through environmental design to prevent crime will be common sense, while other tips and ideas will include things many may have not thought about before or considered. Residents had the opportunity to engage in an open conversation throughout the route, and ask any questions as the event organizers pointed out crime prevention and safety tips. The Municipality of Lakeshore then hosted a Neighbourhood Safety and Crime Prevention Walk in collaboration with Windsor-Essex Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Plan on Tuesday, June 17, from 6:30pm to 8pm. For more information, log onto Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Strathroy-Caradoc police investigate homicide after fatal stabbing
A quiet residential neighbourhood in Strathroy was turned upside down Friday night as police in the community investigate what they're calling a homicide. Strathroy-Caradoc police were called to Ashby Crescent just after 5 p.m. following reports of an altercation between two men. Police say they arrived to find one man with stab wounds. The 27 year old later died of his injuries. A 25-year-old man has been arrested and taken into custody. Witnesses tell CTV News the two men had been working in the area, though this has not been confirmed by police. Strathroy-Caradoc Det. Sgt. Jason Cartwright said the service is getting help from OPP Major Crimes and Sarnia Police Forensics units. 'We aren't sure exactly what the relationship is between those two individuals. We're still investigating. The OPP Major Crimes Unit as well as the Sarnia Police Forensic Investigation Section is attending to give us a hand. This just occurred in the last couple hours, so charges, we will be looking at charges pending in the future,' said Det. Sgt. Cartright. In the meantime, a portion of Ashby Crescent has been cordoned off and closed to vehicular traffic as police investigate. Yellow crime scene tape can be seen wrapped around the front yards of two homes next to one another on the small street.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
Barrie robbery linked to crime ring believed to be behind series of bank heists
Police investigate an armed robbery at the Ontario Educational Credit Union Ltd. on Alliance Boulevard in Barrie, Ont., on Nov. 9, 2023. A major multi-jurisdictional police investigation into a string of armed bank robberies across southern Ontario, including one that happened in Barrie, has resulted in five arrests. The case, dubbed Project Opal, brought together several police services, including Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), after a rash of eight robberies took place between December 2022 and March 2024. Police say each robbery followed a similar pattern with two or three masked suspects entering the bank shortly before closing time, and at least one carried a handgun. Investigators believe the same group is responsible for more than $2 million in combined losses across all eight banks. The stolen funds have not been recovered. In several of the later robberies, police say bank employees were tied up, including a robbery at the Ontario Educational Credit Union Ltd. on Alliance Boulevard in Barrie in November 2023. At that time, Barrie police said two men with their faces covered burst into the credit union armed with guns and demanded money. Two employees had been bound while the suspects made off with a 'large amount of Canadian currency.' Between June and September 2025, police say four suspects were arrested in connection with several robberies. On Friday, the OPP charged a 33-year-old man from Coburg with two counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited weapon in relation to robberies in Barrie and Newmarket. He is currently in police custody with a court appearance scheduled for July 8 in Oshawa. Police say another suspect, a 33-year-old man from Ajax, remains on the run. They encourage anyone with information on his whereabouts not to approach him, 'instead contact police immediately.' The investigation remains ongoing.
Toronto Sun
13 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
More charges after $2M in bank robberies, suspect outstanding: OPP
Akeem Williams, 33, of Ajax. Photo by HANDOUT / OPP A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with in a string of bank robberies across the province and the Greater Toronto Area that has seen more than $2 million in cash stolen. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Ontario Provincial Police say the eight heists happened between Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, and Saturday, March 16, 2024, in jurisdictions policed by OPP, Barrie Police, Belleville Police, Durham Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police and York Regional Police. While each police service initially investigated their respective incidents, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch assumed a coordinating role in August 2023 after investigators identified 'consistent patterns suggesting the involvement of a single group of suspects,' the OPP said in a news release issued on Friday. Investigators involved in what has been dubbed Project Opal said that in each robbery, two or three individuals entered the bank shortly before closing. The bandits wore different disguises during each incident and brandished at least one handgun. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the last six robberies, police said bank employees were bound. Read More Investigators believe the group has been responsible for more than $2 million in reported losses in eight heists. The stolen funds have not yet been recovered. 'Project Opal required extensive coordination across multiple police services to identify and apprehend the suspects before they could target another bank,' OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns said. 'Through their tireless work, they were able to ensure no other victim had to endure the fear and trauma of such an ordeal.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. One year ago, June 21, three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, Ont., by the OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit and the OPP Aviation Unit, with help from West Nipissing OPP's Crime Unit and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. A fourth suspect was arrested in Vaughan on Sept. 25, 2024. RECOMMENDED VIDEO On Friday, the OPP said a fifth suspect has now been arrested in relation to robberies in Barrie and Newmarket. Roderick Newman, 33, of Cobourg, is charged with two counts of robbery with a restricted or prohibited weapon. An additional suspect, Akeem Williams, 33, of Ajax, is still sought by cops. Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at Canada Music Crime Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors
CTV News
14 hours ago
- CTV News
Northbound and nowhere fast: Highway 400 clogged with cottage traffic
Traffic is pictured on Highway 400 in Barrie, Ont. If you're heading north for the unofficial Canada Day long weekend, you're not alone. Thousands of drivers hit the road Friday afternoon for the unofficial kickoff to the summer season, leading to long delays and heavy congestion along Highway 400 through Barrie as city-dwellers make their way toward cottage country. From late Friday morning into the afternoon, traffic has been bumper-to-bumper in stretches, especially around key interchanges. But the slow crawl north is nothing new for many. It's a ritual of summer in Ontario: the mass exodus from the GTA to Muskoka, often backing traffic up for kilometres as cottagers, campers and tourists seek lakeside views and outdoor activities. Police suggest anyone hitting the road pack their patience and expect delays throughout the weekend to make it a safe and enjoyable one for everyone. The OPP will be out in full force over the weekend, actively patrolling roadways, trails and waterways, and say officers will be keeping a keen eye for high-risk behaviours: driving impaired, aggressive, or distracted, and seatbelt compliance. 'Don't drink or use drugs and drive,' OPP stated, adding motorists can expect R.I.D.E. checks over the weekend. 'Speeding and reckless driving won't be tolerated.' Police also say to keep your eyes on the roads and not on devices, and to buckle up, 'every trip, every time.'
