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Caution advised due to bacteria levels at some Ontario beaches as heat persists
Some Ontario beaches have been deemed unsafe for swimming during a heat wave in southern parts of the province, but experts say public beaches — especially those in urban areas — still provide crucial relief from blistering temperatures.
Toronto Public Health advised caution Tuesday at the popular Centre Island beach on the Toronto Islands, after water samples showed elevated E.coli bacteria counts.
In Ottawa, E.coli counts at Mooney’s Bay Beach and Petrie East Bay were above the provincial threshold, according to data collected last week. Ottawa Public Health transitioned this year to testing waters once a week, whereas Toronto Public Health continues to sample water from beaches on a daily basis.
Public health authorities in Windsor and Essex County also posted E. coli warnings for several beaches in the region, based on testing done last week.
Gregary Ford, vice-president of Swim Drink Fish Canada, said reduced water quality is usually caused by intense precipitation that overloads sewage and wastewater systems, causing increased levels of bacteria to flow into nearby bodies of water.
“Generally, that’s when we start to see these beach postings occur during the summer, particularly during these warm periods followed by intense storm events,” he said.
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Aside from checking water quality test results, Ford said it’s best to avoid swimming 24 to 48 hours after rainfall to avoid wastewater runoff.
Ontario’s water safety regulations are also some of the strictest in the world, with a threshold of 200 E.coli counts per 100 millilitres of water, Ford said.
Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto’s associate medical officer of health, said Toronto Public Health uses an even more “stringent” standard of 100 E.coli counts per 100 millilitres in its water quality testing.
Despite the potential health risks, Shapiro said urban beaches are still a vital escape from heat waves and a way for people to cool down.
“Even if you look at the temperatures in the city, it’ll be cooler by the lake than it will be in other parts, particularly in areas that have a lot of concrete,” Shapiro said.
Meanwhile, a researcher at Ottawa’s Carleton University is currently testing the waters at five locations along the Rideau River to dispel myths about river water quality and safety.
Banu Örmeci, the director of Carleton’s Global Water Institute and an environmental engineering professor, said she’s been collecting weekly samples from the Rideau River since the beginning of June, with each sample deemed safe by provincial standards.
Örmeci said she hopes her work can encourage the City of Ottawa to consider opening more supervised beaches along the Rideau River.
“Not everyone has the resources to go to cottages, and it is really important to create these recreational spaces in our neighbourhoods,” she said.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
The Niagara SPCA and Humane Society says over the span of four days, it has received 76 cats that were either surrendered or found abandoned.
Amelia Canto, CEO of the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society, told Global News on Wednesday they are continuing to have even more cats come in.
“This is usually a busy time with the season,” Canto said.
“It’s basically kitten season right now, so the fact that 76 arrived at one time was very overwhelming for us. They are fortunately in good health.”
Kitten cared for by the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society.
Supplied by the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society
It all started when 10 kittens were found huddled inside a box and left in a public park, the SPCA said on its website, while nine more cats arrived after a person was evicted and their cats were left with nowhere to go.
Over those four days, other cats — some of them pregnant — came in, while others came in still nursing their litter of kittens.
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But the society says the final blow was 14 female cats found inside a wire dog crate, abandoned in another park with nothing but a handwritten note saying: “Please find these cats a home. I am unable to care for them! I’m sorry.”
Cats abandoned in a park, now in the care of the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society.
Supplied by the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society
The massive increase in felines now brings the total number of cats and kittens being cared for by the Niagara SPCA to 221.
“All the precious lives are now safe in our care, but we’re stretched to the limit,” said Tammy Gaboury, animal care manager, on the SPCA’s website.
“We’ve planned for busy seasons. We couldn’t have planned for this.”
To cope with massive increase of cats under their care, the society is asking people to donate to help with care costs.
Canto says several pet stores have taken some of the cats to feature them as available in the store, as well as donated items for pets in need. Several vets are also stepping up to help cover some surgery and care costs, Canto added.
While under the SPCA’s care, each cat is given flea and parasite control, vaccinated, and received a full physical exam.
Gaboury said on the SPCA’s website they also spay or neuter all cats to help avoid overpopulation, and make it easier for them to find a new home.
“No cat should be left in a park, in a box, or behind a locked door. Please consider giving now to be part of their rescue story,” Gaboury says.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
After nearly two weeks, police in Niagara Falls, Ont., say they have finally caught up with a man who is accused of fatally running over an 82-year-old man with his own car.
The ordeal began on July 17, when officers were dispatched to Charles Daley Park in Lincoln at around 9:45 a.m. after a report that a vehicle had hit a pedestrian and fled the scene.
Two days later, police revealed that 82-year-old Larry Pearce of St. Catharines had succumbed to his injuries suffered in the collision while in hospital.
Police said Pearce had been at the park for about 40 minutes before he began to drive off. As he was leaving the parking lot, “he stopped and engaged in an interaction with unknown suspect(s).”
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Pearce then got out of the vehicle to talk with them and that was when a suspect hopped in and took control of the wheel, according to police. They say Pearce then jumped in front of the vehicle in an attempt to stop the thief from making off with his Honda CR-V but he fell to the ground and the SUV drove off.
Three days after the incident, police announced they were looking to speak with Davy Rocchetti in connection with the incident. They did not say whether the man was a suspect but did say he was wanted on charges unrelated to the hit and run, including mischief under $5,000, theft under $5,000 and operation while prohibited.
Then, on July 23, police announced that Rocchetti was facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with Pearce’s death and that officers were seeking a Canada-wide warrant in their search for the man.
Police said Rocchetti had been spotted in the 2012 grey Honda CR-V in Mississauga along with his pitbull-style dog.
Then last Thursday, police from Peel Region were dispatched to North Sheridan Way in Mississauga for a vehicle fire.
It was later confirmed to be the missing CR-V, according to police, who said a man was seen walking away from the SUV after it had been set ablaze.
Police say they finally caught up with Pearce on Tuesday night, arresting him for second-degree murder and taking him back to Niagara Region.
Police did not say where the arrest was made but noted that officers from Niagara, Peel and Toronto were involved.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Thousands of young people are set to line up for job interviews at the Canadian National Exhibition Wednesday amid a high level of youth unemployment in Ontario.
The CNE says it has received more than 54,000 online job applications for more than 5,000 seasonal positions at the two-week fair, including cashiers, retail associates, game attendants, food service staff, midway operators and informational guides.
It says this is the highest number of job applications it has ever received, calling it a reflection of a job market that’s causing high rates of youth unemployment.
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One expert says the youth unemployment rate is higher this year compared to the same period last year but it’s still lower than during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 recession.
Viet Vu, the manager of economic research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Dais think thank, says youth unemployment is up because the job market has cooled over the last several months, due to fewer businesses hiring and the disruptions in trade with the United States.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 in Ontario was 15.8 per cent in June.
Vu says a lot of young people who are looking for their first job after graduation and students who are looking for summer jobs are hit especially hard in a difficult job market.
The CNE says it has already hired people for more than 1,000 positions.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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