Environment Canada has issued orange and yellow weather warnings as an intense and prolonged heat wave is expected to blanket much of Ontario, including Toronto and Ottawa, starting today.

The weather agency says the heat and humidity could continue through to Friday and possibly into the weekend before temperatures drop slightly next week.

It says maximum temperatures in Toronto and Ottawa are expected to reach 33 C with a humidex of 42 C.

Environment Canada says temperatures will hover between highs of 35 C and lows of 23 C for the rest of the week.

Forecasters say parts of northern Ontario, from Thunder Bay to Timmins, could see temperatures of 32 C, with a humidex near 40 C.

Heat warnings are also in place for parts of eastern and southern Quebec, with daytime temperatures in Montreal around 33 C starting Wednesday and lasting until Saturday.

The agency says people should limit direct exposure to the sun and heat, and check on family members and neighbours who are at high risk of heat illness or living alone.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Ontario’s jail guards are asking for more help after a coroner’s report detailed a suicide crisis among correctional workers and made more than two dozen recommendations to the provincial government.

Thirty-four correctional workers have died by suicide over the past 15 years, according to a report by the Office of the Chief Coroner, titled In the Light of Day.

The report was led by Dr. Reuven Jhirad, Ontario’s deputy chief coroner, and Rose Jumarang, who along with a team reviewed death investigations, spoke to more than 90 people and made 28 recommendations meant to improve the health of workers at both provincial and federal institutions.

There have been more suicides among Ontario correctional workers in recent years, the report found. Half of the deaths took place between 2010 and 2019 and the other half between 2020 and 2024, doubling the rate, it said.

“We have an emergency happening among correctional workers and we need the resources in place to actually address this emergency,” said Chad Oldfield, chair of the corrections division of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Correctional workers currently have access to a maximum of $2,500 per year for psychological or social work treatment, the union said. That represents about 15-20 sessions a year with a mental health professional — far too few when someone is in crisis, Oldfield said.

The workers want support on par with what’s offered to Ontario Provincial Police, whose benefits cover unlimited outpatient and in-patient mental health treatment. The coroner’s recommendations include expanded mental health coverage and dealing with psychological hazards in the workplace.

“What we hear is the most frustrating thing is they look across the aisle and they say, ‘Hey, the OPP, who are under the same ministry and funded like us across the province, they have unlimited mental health benefits,'” Oldfield said.

“They can get the help they need immediately by picking up the phone and not have to pay for it.”

The cost of mental health supports is largely unaffordable for correctional workers, he said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General said it has taken several steps to improve mental health awareness, training and supports for correctional employees and their families.

The province is investing up to $45.2 million in the Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel program, which provides access to supports for correctional employees, police officers, firefighters and others in the public safety sector, Saddam Khussain said in an email.

The ministry also implemented an employee wellness strategy in collaboration with the union in 2019, he said. The strategy includes a number of initiatives for correctional staff, including mandatory suicide prevention training, a corrections-specific peer support program and a therapy phone line available 24/7 that launched last month, he said. Mandatory trauma resiliency training is set to be added this year, he said.

The ministry is reviewing the report and its recommendations and will respond to the chief coroner’s office, Khussain said.

“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those who have tragically died by suicide,” he said.

“We recognize the unique challenges of working in the correctional system. Corrections employees see, experience, and are exposed to situations on a regular basis that can have serious and long-lasting impacts on their mental health and well-being.”

Oldfield and his colleagues at OPSEU noticed a cluster of three suicides in 2023 that gave them pause and drove them to seek to better understand what was happening on the front lines of correctional work, he said. They turned to a wide variety of government bodies for help and eventually found a welcoming ear in the coroner’s office.

Jhirad said he took on a deputy minister’s review, believing it would allow for the work to be done much faster than an inquest, which are often years in the making. It also allowed him to have a greater look at systemic issues, he said.

Research has shown the widespread devastation one suicide can have, and the report notes an average of 135 people are “impacted directly by a specific death by suicide.”

In an interview, the deputy chief coroner said his top recommendation is recognition: that correctional officers work in difficult environments, that they face many challenges and that they are a part of the public safety community.

Correctional workers are often overlooked when compared to police officers, paramedics and firefighters, Jhirad said. “Often not being seen to the same degree can sometimes cause the challenges,” he said.

The report also listed a series of more practical recommendations, including a range of training that includes work to build up resiliency.

Other recommendations include enhanced mental health support teams, access to peer support workers who understand the unique nature of the job, and multiple initiatives to better inform the government, correctional staff and the public.

Jhirad also said much needs to be done to confront the stigma surrounding mental health issues among correctional workers.

“There is no crying in corrections” is a saying Jhirad and his team heard several times during the review, he said.

Correctional workers had higher rates of mental health disorders such as major depressive disorder, PTSD, anxiety, substance-use disorders and suicidal ideation than the general population, he and his team found.

The review found a workplace culture marked by stigma, mistrust, emotional repression and “toxic masculinity,” all of which hinder those looking for help.

Correctional officers and paramedics have been found to have higher odds of suicidal behaviour compared to municipal and provincial police officers, the report found.

The review dealt only with the 34 deaths that were confirmed suicides, but Jhirad said he believes the real number is higher because they were limited to some degree by the data available. The vast majority of the confirmed suicides were men, with an average age of 50.

Overcrowding across Ontario’s jails has also affected correctional staff, the report found. Data obtained by The Canadian Press through freedom-of-information laws showed Ontario’s jails operated, on average, at 113 per cent capacity in 2023, a problem that worsened to 127 per cent capacity in 2025.

There were, on average, 11,058 inmates in Ontario’s jails last year, far greater than the 8,676 average capacity in the system.

“When you have more people in a confined space that can lead to more violence and that’s what we’re seeing,” said Adam Cygler, co-chair of the occupational stress injury subcommittee for the union.

Correctional workers are also dealing with a rise in moral injuries, he said.

“Our members are working in these conditions, seeing things that they’re not OK with,” Cygler said. “Because of the capacity issues, it’s difficult for our members to see four people crammed into these small cells.”

Ministry data collected by the union show violence is up significantly across the board over the past decade or so. There were 7,307 inmate-on-inmate assaults in 2025, up from 2,880 such assaults in 2015. And there were 1,249 inmate-on-staff assaults in 2025, compared to 545 similar incidents in 2017.

Premier Doug Ford, in response to The Canadian Press’s reporting on jail overcrowding, pledged to build more facilities and hire more correctional workers.

The province has since announced several hiring initiatives and has plans to increase jail capacity by nearly 6,000 beds by 2050, with about 2,500 to be online within a decade.

—

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, Canada’s national suicide prevention helpline.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — Ticket prices for Thursday’s round-of-32 World Cup game in Vancouver have plummeted since it became clear Canada wouldn’t be playing there — but it’s a whole different ball game in Toronto.

Fans there will get to see two highly rated teams, as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal squad take on Croatia on Thursday, and prices are around four times higher than at BC Place.

Canada’s defeat by Switzerland last Wednesday dashed the chances of Vancouver hosting the home team in the knockout rounds and instead it will see the Swiss take on Algeria.

The TicketData website that tracks prices says the cheapest tickets for BC Place in the round of 32 plunged from around $2,100 on Wednesday to about $700 on Monday.

The lowest Portugal-Croatia entry price was around $2,550.

FIFA’s official resale marketplace on Monday showed Croatia-Portugal as the only round-of-32 match without any tickets available, while numerous tickets for the match in Vancouver were up for grabs, starting at $575.

As for Canada’s round-of-16 match in Houston on Saturday, tickets can be had for as low as $1,200 according to TicketData, or about $1,030 on FIFA’s marketplace.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press

Environment Canada has issued an orange alert as an intense and prolonged heat wave is expected to blanket much of southern Ontario, including Toronto, starting today.

The weather agency says the heat wave will continue through Friday and possibly into the weekend before temperatures drop slightly early next week.

It says maximum temperatures in Toronto are expected to reach 33 C with a humidex of 42 C today with a 40 per cent chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorm.

It says temperatures will hover between highs of 35 C and lows of 23 C for the rest of the week.

Environment Canada says hot and humid air can also lead to deteriorating air quality.

The agency is urging Ontarians to limit direct exposure to the sun and heat, and check on family members and neighbours who are at high risk of heat illness or living alone.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — New changes affecting auto insurance in Ontario are set to kick in Wednesday offering drivers more flexibility when it comes to their plans, but insurers say it’s important to consider the risks of refusing certain coverages.

As of July 1, nine types of insurance accident benefits that had previously been automatic in every Ontario policy will be optional.

Those include income replacement, caregiver benefits, housekeeping and home maintenance, death and funeral benefits, non-earner benefits for students and retirees, lost educational expenses, visitor expenses, and damage to personal items.

Insurance brokerage Surex says declining all optional benefits may save a driver around $75 to $100 annually in premiums, with income replacement accounting for nearly three-quarters of those savings.

However, doing so could pose added risks. Surex says self-employed Canadians are most vulnerable, with most having no employer safety net to fall back on.

The firm estimated that a self-employed contractor off work for a year after a serious crash could lose up to $20,800 in income replacement benefits for the sake of saving $75 per year.

The reforms could lead to more legal disputes following accidents if drivers opt out of benefits without fully understanding the financial consequences, said Morgan Roberts, vice-president of RH Insurance, Ratehub.ca’s in-house property and casualty brokerage.

“Ontario drivers are gaining more flexibility under the new reforms, but more choice also means more responsibility,” Roberts said in a news release.

“The premium reduction from removing optional benefits is relatively small, roughly the cost of a couple of coffees each month, but the financial consequences of being underinsured after a major accident could be significant.”

Roberts added that as the system becomes more customizable, the industry could shift toward more personalized insurance pricing over time.

Standard medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits will still be included in all auto insurance policies, and policyholders will continue to have the option to purchase additional or increased benefits, such as supplementary medical, rehabilitation, attendant care, dependent care and indexation benefits.

Nainesh Kotak, founder of Kotak Personal Injury Law, said existing policyholders should not assume that nothing changes for their plan upon renewal. While current policies would renew with the same optional benefits and limits unless specified in writing, there could be changes to who is covered under those optional benefits.

As part of the new rules, some people who may have been previously covered by another driver’s policy — such as pedestrians, cyclists and certain passengers — may no longer be eligible for accident benefits.

Optional accident benefits will only apply to the named insured, the spouse of the named insured, dependents of the named insured and of the named insured’s spouse, and people listed in the policy as drivers of the automobile.

Insurers are required to notify policyholders 30 to 60 days before renewal. Drivers whose policies renew on July 1 would have already received their notification letter.

New policy customers as of July 1 need to decide which optional benefits they want to add to their policy, or otherwise risk not being covered.

Kotak said that if policyholders are considering reducing their coverage, they should assess their risk tolerance along with their financial situation.

“Ask yourself whether you could afford lost income, caregiving costs, housekeeping expenses or other out-of-pocket losses after a serious collision,” Kotak said.

“We all want to save on auto insurance rates, but it should not come at the expense of sacrificing essential coverage. These changes could leave people exposed to out-of-pocket costs if a claim happens.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press

More than a year before the World Cup, Canadian sports stores placed what they thought was a safe bet on Italy’s national soccer team.

As one of the few teams to win four World Cups, the Azzurri are in a rare club. Even though they failed to qualify for the last two tournaments, their Euro 2020 win and an expansion of this year’s World Cup field to 48 from 32 teams gave Canada’s sizeable Italian community hope.

So sports stores ordered merchandise accordingly. Then came the big letdown: the Italians failed to qualify.

Suddenly, a team that’s usually a cash cow for Canadian sports shops had turned into a burden. Along with other non-qualifiers like Denmark, Nigeria, Jamaica, Poland and Northern Ireland, it became a reminder of just how unpredictable the game can be.

“Italy not making it definitely hurts us,” said Carmelo Sansalone, whose family has run the Evangelista Sports store in Montreal since 1985.

“We’re based in Little Italy. We have a huge Italian community, so yeah, that put a dent in our sales for sure.”

With demand for Italian gear far lower than predicted, the shop is among many across Canada that have significantly marked down the team’s merchandise.

Italy jerseys that it would have sold for $190 each are now available for $95. Sansalone expects it will take months to sell through all the inventory for teams that didn’t advance — a stark comparison to the Canada and France gear that’s flying off his shelves.

“Some gambles work out, some gambles don’t,” he explained.

It’s a lesson even the big sports stores appeared to be feeling at the Eaton Centre mall in Toronto last week. While shoppers were hurriedly picking up Canada jerseys as well as merchandise for top contenders France, Spain and Argentina, paraphernalia for teams not in competition barely got a glance.

At JD Sports, racks of Italian and Jamaican jerseys were marked $50, down from $100. Northern Ireland jerseys were going for $60, a drop from $120 originally.

Over at Sport Chek, shoppers were greeted at the entrance with a clearance rack stuffed with half-priced Italy and United Arab Emirates wear all marked down by at least 50 per cent.

Dylan Rowe, head of retail at Ontario sportswear chain Soccer World, said the reason why there’s so much merchandise to sell is because sports shops have to order their World Cup inventory long before the tournament’s participants have been decided, so it can get manufactured in time.

Many didn’t just buy “heavily into Italy,” they doubled down.

That’s because they knew if Italy qualified, they would have plenty of buyers to satisfy.

More than 1.5 million people in Canada reported Italian heritage to Statistics Canada in 2021 and the fan base is so fervent, Rowe said the team’s jerseys are usually among his shop’s three most popular.

When a tentative World Cup schedule was drawn up in November, it showed Italy could wind up playing in Toronto, if the team made it to the tournament.

“Everyone bought even more inventory at that point as well,” Rowe said.

Then, things went sideways. Italy crashed out of qualifying during a penalty shootout loss to 66th-ranked Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“Obviously, it’s tough,” Rowe said.

His shop has joined others in marking down Italy jerseys and hoping the country fares better when the women’s World Cup is hosted next year in Brazil.

Luckily, Rowe and Sansalone have seen demand for other team’s merchandise soar.

At Evangelista Sports, Montrealers are clamouring for France, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria jerseys and at Soccer World Central, Germany’s offering was a hit in the lead up to its faceoff against Ivory Coast in Toronto.

But the real star has been the home team, which earned its first-ever World Cup point in a mid-June match against Bosnia-Herzegovina and notched a monumental win against South Africa on Sunday to advance to the round of 16.

“We’ve sold more Canada shirts now than we ever have as a business for 25 years, so it’s been insane demand for Canada jerseys,” Rowe said.

“Some of it is from Italian Canadians. I have friends that are now pouring all that support into Canada.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

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Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Former Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette was emotional in his first return to the Rogers Centre since joining the New York Mets as a free agent in the off-season.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, before the Blue Jays (39-45) opened a three-game series against the Mets (35-49), the 28-year-old paused to collect himself more than once as he fielded a variety of questions about his seven-year tenure with the Blue Jays from the visitors’ dugout.

When asked what kind of reception he expected from fans, Bichette began to answer before he paused to look out at the field, fighting back tears.

“I gave it everything I had,” he said. “I just hope that’s appreciated.”

Monday was Bichette’s first game back in Toronto since the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. He said he hadn’t anticipated getting emotional during his pre-game media availability.

“I didn’t expect that, to be honest, but this is also the first time I’ve been out here, and the first time I’ve really talked to any of you guys,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of things that are being brought on me at one time right now.”

Following the end of the 2025 season, Bichette became a free agent and signed a three-year, US$126-million deal with the Mets.

Before joining the Mets, Bichette spent his entire MLB career in Toronto. The Blue Jays drafted the infielder in the second round in 2016, and he made his major-league debut in July of 2019.

Over seven seasons with the Blue Jays, Bichette, a two-time All-Star, batted .294 with 111 home runs, 437 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 748 games.

Bichette said it felt “different” to be back in Toronto.

“I’m excited to get out here and play some ball and see some guys,” said Bichette, who viewed his time return as an opportunity to “reflect on good times, and just be grateful.”

Among the good times was last year’s Blue Jays’ run to the World Series. Bichette missed the majority of the post-season with a left knee injury, but made his return to the lineup during the World Series.

In Game 7, he hit a three-run home run in the third inning off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani that gave Toronto an early lead before L.A. came back to win in extra innings.

“When I hit that home run, I had a moment by myself, kind of down in the tunnel, where I just was like, I couldn’t have drew it up better. Obviously, I hoped we would have won, but for me, just what I was going through up to that point, it was cool,” he said.

As Bichette navigated free agency, he said he had a feeling his time in Toronto had come to an end before he signed with the Mets. But the third baseman said he doesn’t have regrets.

“I think at the end of the day, it just didn’t line up for whatever reason,” he said. “But no, I mean, (it’s) tough to live in the past like that.”

Bichette got off to a slow start for the Mets this season, but he has performed better recently. Entering Monday’s game, he was batting .337 with five home runs and 18 RBIs with a .932 OPS through 25 games in June.

Before the game, Bichette said he had yet to reunite with former teammate and close friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with whom he shared a field with throughout the minor leagues as well.

“It’ll be good,” he said, again becoming emotional, about what it would be like to see Guerrero.

“We went through it all together,” Bichette said about his relationship with the Blue Jays first baseman. “The one goal we had together, we didn’t accomplish it, but I’ve seen him at his lowest, and he’s seen me at mine, and vice versa at our highest.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.

Kaitlyn McGrath, The Canadian Press

Stephen Eustaquio’s Ontario hometown is celebrating his last-minute goal on Sunday that allowed the Canadian men’s team to make soccer history and advance to the FIFA World Cup round of 16 for the first time.

The 29-year-old midfielder from Leamington, southeast of Windsor, Ont., scored the goal against South Africa in stoppage time to give Canada a 1-0 victory.

Although Eustaquio moved to Portugal at age seven, he still has many ties to the town of about 30,000 people, through family and friends.

Community members say they are thrilled to see his success on the world stage.

Joal McMahon, the principal at Eustaquio’s former elementary school, says everyone is buzzing about his role in Canadian history.

Before the World Cup began, Eustaquio had filmed a video for current students of St. Louis Catholic Elementary School, asking for their support during the “tough” journey ahead.

“My phone was blowing up from staff members, just so excited to have somebody that came from St. Louis become a national hero,” McMahon said in an interview.

The soccer-mad town has hosted watch parties throughout the tournament, and they expect the festivities to continue.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.

Monique Kasonga, The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will never miss an opportunity to play for Canada.

The two-time NBA MVP was the biggest name added to Canada’s roster for the upcoming FIBA Americas Qualifiers on Monday as the team pushes for a berth in the 2027 men’s World Cup. Hamilton’s TD Coliseum will host two qualifier games when Canada faces Puerto Rico on Friday and Jamaica on July 6.

“Playing for your country is what I dreamed about as a kid,” said Gilgeous-Alexander at a news conference at a downtown Toronto hotel. “Being able to have the opportunity to do this is special, so I just choose the opportunity to do so every single time. It’s that simple.

“If I couldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be here. But I have the opportunity to be here, so I am.”

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season to earn his second consecutive league MVP award. Despite a lengthy playoff run to the Western Conference final with Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander said he was ready to play for Canada.

“Basketball is all of our pride and joy. We have fun playing it,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who was flanked by Canada Basketball teammates Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dillon Brooks. “To be able to do it on this platform with guys we played with growing up, it’s an awesome feeling.

“Super excited and ready to go.”

Brooks, whose Phoenix Suns were swept out of the first round of the NBA playoffs by Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder, was eager to again represent Canada.

“The logistics are difficult, but being here and playing for your country isn’t,” said Brooks, who will be co-captain with Gilgeous-Alexander. “(After last year) we all had a meeting, and we were all committed, so we all knew what the process was.”

Alexander-Walker, who is Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin, also had a playoff run as his Atlanta Hawks lost to the eventual champion New York Knicks in the first round.

“It’s about commitment,” said Alexander-Walker, who had a career season in Atlanta and earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. “I’m committed to playing but also playing at home and playing in front of the home crowd.”

Canada is atop Group B with a perfect 4-0 record with the two games left in the first round of qualifying. Although Canada is in good shape to advance to the second round, seeding is still at stake with Brazil and Uruguay also 4-0 and Mexico and Chile 3-0.

Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett and head coach Gordie Herbert announced the 16-player roster before Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexander-Walker and Brooks took questions from the media.

Joining Gilgeous-Alexander, Brooks and Alexander-Walker on Canada’s roster for the two qualifying games are Charles Bediako, Aaron Best, Khem Birch, Marcus Carr, Kyshawn George, Mfiondu Kabengele, Thomas Kennedy, Leonard Miller, Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard, Kassius Robertson, Jackson Rowe, and Kyle Wiltjer.

“We have a group of elite individuals and a lot of players who can impact the game in different ways, but first and foremost, we need to create a team mentality,” said Herbert. “It just doesn’t happen overnight. It takes some time.

“It’s a process, and that’s what we’re starting with today, and continuing what the players did in the windows.”

Barrett encouraged Canadian basketball fans to buy tickets and show their support.

“We’ve got to fill this stadium,” said Barrett as part of his opening remarks. “Our players are here. We very rarely get opportunities to play in our country, and this is a call to our whole country here, right?

“I don’t want to hear about people sharing (online) ‘I want our players to play’ or ‘they need to show up and play,’ and then, when they do, and they come here, we don’t fill the stadium.”

Earlier Monday, TD Coliseum announced that Gilgeous-Alexander would have a basketball court designed in his honour. He became an investor in TD Coliseum earlier this year, supporting his hometown’s growth as a destination for sports and entertainment.

The SGA-themed court will debut this week as Hamilton hosts the FIBA Americas Qualifiers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

HAMILTON — Public health officials in Hamilton say a local outbreak of legionellosis, also known as legionnaires’ disease, is over.

Hamilton Public Health says that over roughly three weeks in May, 22 people in the east Hamilton and Stoney Creek areas were hospitalized after a lab confirmed their infections.

The agency says it declared the outbreak over after no additional cases were reported between May 26 and Saturday.

Legionnaires’ disease is spread by inhaling droplets containing the bacteria, with symptoms such as a high fever, chills, shortness of breath and a cough.

Officials say they investigated cooling towers and other sources that could be releasing droplets into the air outside but have not confirmed the source of the outbreak.

Public health authorities say that despite extensive investigation, the source of outbreaks is not always identified.

Hamilton’s associate medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Lew, says residents and water system operators must make sure their equipment is properly used and maintained.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.

The Canadian Press