COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting 45 new, confirmed COVID-19 cases, and another death from the virus Friday.
The Capital has recorded a total of 8653 cases, with 7891 resolved, and 383 active. 379 people in Ottawa have now died after contracting the Novel Coronavirus.
COVID-19 Ontario:
There are 1,780 new, confirmed cases, and 25 more deaths from the virus across the province.
Ontario has now hit 123,526 cases in total, with 3,737 deaths related to the virus, and 104,792 patients recovered.
Ontario Unveils Vaccine Panel:
Ontario’s top coroner and a former Toronto police chief have been appointed to the government’s COVID-19 vaccine panel.
The panel headed by retired chief of national defence staff general Rick Hillier will oversee distribution of the vaccine when available. Its nine members include chief coroner Doctor Dirk Huyer, former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders and car parts executive Linda Hasenfratz.
Sexual Assault Charges Laid:
An Ottawa man is facing charges including sexual assault, voyeurism, and indecent exposure in connection with a disturbing incident on Monday.
Investigators accuse Kent Spott, 53, of assaulting another man inside a washroom stall in a store on Place d’Orleans Drive. They say he reached underneath a bathroom stall divider and touched another man.
Police believe there might be more victims out there. Anyone with more information is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, ext. 3566 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
More Charges Following Lobster Fishing-Related Assaults in Nova Scotia:
A fourth person this week has been charged in connection with tensions that erupted after a Nova Scotia First Nation launched a self-regulated lobster fishery.
RCMP say Randy Cyril German, 49, has been charged in the assault of a woman in New Edinburgh on October 14. Police say it occurred as crowds gathered near the lobster pound that was to handle the catch harvested by Sipekne’katik First Nation fishers.
Attawapiskat Locked Down After COVID Cases Confirmed:
Attawapiskat is in lockdown until further notice after five cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the community.
All individuals are now self-isolating and contact tracing is underway. Two Attawapiskat schools are closed, and grocery stores are limiting the number of customers allowed inside.
Quebec Invests In Indigenous Policing:
The Quebec government says it will spend $18.6-million over the next five years to improve policing in Indigenous communities.
Among the measures announced Friday is funding to enable members of Indigenous police services to stay in their communities while taking specialized training courses that enable them to investigate crimes such as sexual assaults. Currently those courses are only offered at the provincial police academy.
ByTowne Cinema To Close:
A staple of Ottawa’s movie scene will be shutting up shop at the end of the year.
Owners have confirmed on social media that the ByTowne Cinema is closing for good, adding that they have been losing money every day since the pandemic started. Ownership says some regular customers have been hesitant to return to the theatre due to the pandemic. They also pointed out that many movie studios are distributing films to streaming services, and not promoting theatre viewing.
They have organized a fund for employees affected by the closure. Click here for more details.