As the summer job hunt intensifies, one of the city’s biggest hiring events is set to draw thousands of people.

With youth unemployment reaching some of the highest levels seen in decades, thousands of job seekers are expected to attend the Canadian National Exhibition’s annual job fair on Wednesday at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.

In a statement released by the CNE, they say they’ve already received a record-breaking 54,000 online applications for more than 5,000 seasonal positions, marking the highest number in its history.

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The overwhelming response is a reflection of echoes from youth regarding the challenging labour market.

According to Statistics Canada, the national unemployment rate for Canadians aged 14 to 24 is hovering around 14 percent, and in Ontario, nearly one in four teens between the ages of 14 and 19 is currently unemployed.

The job fair, which officially opens to candidates at 11 a.m., offers opportunities across a range of roles, including food service, retail, games, midway operations and customer service. CNE partners and vendors will be conducting in-person interviews throughout the day.

With the CNE’s opening day fast approaching on Aug. 15, organizers say the hiring event plays a key role in preparing for the fair’s return.

Last year, 81 per cent of CNE staff identified as youth aged 14 to 29; 78 per cent identified as visible minorities, and 15 per cent identified as living with a disability.

The CNE remains one of the city’s largest seasonal employers, generating approximately $112 million in economic activity for the Greater Toronto Area and $143 million for Ontario each year when in full operation.

In 2024, the CNE drew nearly 1.5 million visitors over its 18-day run, following a record-breaking year in 2023 that saw attendance top 1.6 million.

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A homeowner in Newmarket, Ont., woke up to find a rabbit shot dead on their front lawn over the weekend, according to York Regional Police.

They say officers were dispatched to a home near Glenway Circle and Eagle Street West on Sunday at around 11 a.m. after the person found the dead rabbit.

Police released video that shows a white Ford F-150 pickup truck slowly driving past the home before it stops and backs up.

A suspect then leans out of the back window of the extended cab and fires a shot from a gun, presumably striking the rabbit, which was later discovered with a bullet-hole.

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Police also posted a video to Instagram in which Const. James Dickson said he was disturbed by the shooting.

“It’s very concerning that anyone would be firing a firearm, in a residential area, or killing a rabbit for no reason,” he said.

Dickson told Global News investigators believe the incident occurred around 6 a.m. that day.

“Anytime something is happening, whether it’s a shooting at a house or in this case, a shooting of an animal, nobody likes the fact there’s guns being fired in residential areas in broad daylight,” he said.

“There’s no reason that a stray bullet or a ricochet could go into a house, and the implication of what could happen when these firearms are being used throughout residential areas is very serious.”

Police are asking people to check surveillance video from the area at the time of the shooting or from any dashcam footage from area roads at that moment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

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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.

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