Innisfil Snow Dogs take to the ice to help those with intellectual disabilities play hockey
Snow Dog players take to the ice for the first practice of the year on Oct. 14, 2023 (Steve Mansbridge/CTV News).
A hockey club aiming to help those with intellectual disabilities returned to the ice for the first time Saturday.
The Innisfil Snow Dogs Junior Squad is an organization that allows those with intellectual disabilities to begin or continue their interest in hockey.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local news alerts
- Don't miss breaking news - Sign up for the CTV Newsletter
The club is now in its fifteenth year, and club president Ed Hunter says it's about much more than just the sport.
"It's exciting for me as a coach but also as a dad. I have three boys in it. It really helps them out with life skills and hockey. It's not just the hockey, but this gives them motivation and confidence and so many other things. We hear back from teachers, we hear back from parents, aunts and uncles on how their self-esteem has improved. They're just so excited to be a part of the organization and to play a game that their friends play," says Hunter.
The Snowdogs have plenty of roster spots open for new players on their junior or senior team.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Harris has support of enough Democratic delegates to become party's presidential nominee: AP survey
Vice-President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee against Republican Donald Trump, according to an Associated Press survey taken in the aftermath of President Joe Biden's decision to drop his bid for re-election.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
IN PICTURES
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Waterloo woman out thousands for car totalled by stolen hit-and-run driver
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
-
Convicted Kitchener killer's appeal dismissed by court
The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Michael Ball, a convicted killer from Kitchener, who murdered his former girlfriend in 2013.
-
Province to build new hospital on University of Waterloo campus
St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital are planning a new joint acute care hospital at the David Johnston Research + Technology Park (R+T Park).
London
-
'Trying to put fog in a bottle': frustrated donor withdraws million dollar pledge to LHSC
A former London Health Sciences Centre board member and legacy donor is expressing his dismay with the current state of financial affairs at the institution, and he’s putting his money where is mouth is.
-
25 acres of land scorched in weekend field fire
Lambton Shores Fire Department was on the scene of a field fire over the weekend – with a large section of agricultural land scorched as a result of the blaze.
-
St. Thomas standoff comes to an end, one person arrested
St. Thomas police have taken a man into custody in relation to an assault investigation. The area of Hiawatha Street and Owaissa Street was closed for about 4.5 hours while police tried to get a man off the roof of a home.
Windsor
-
Windsor police issue warrant repeat violent offender
The Windsor Police Service has issued a warrant for a man wanted on numerous charges.
-
Eligible voters living in Windsor could decide the U.S. election: experts
It’s an electrifying two weeks for watchers of the U.S. presidential race – especially for the thousands of Windsor residents eligible to vote stateside in November.
-
Suspect arrested in connection to stabbing investigation
The Windsor Police Service has arrested a suspect in connection to a stabbing that took place over the weekend.
Northern Ontario
-
Neighbours relieved as notorious Timmins building demolished
Neighbours of a multi-unit apartment building turned drug house in Timmins said they were happy to see it demolished Monday.
-
Kingston, Ont., driver, 23, charged in triple fatal crash near Parry Sound
A 23-year-old driver from Kingston, Ont., is charged with dangerous and impaired driving in a single-vehicle crash that killed three people and left a fourth with serious injuries east of Parry Sound on Saturday.
-
Sudbury woman shares difficulties accessing IVF treatments in the north
A Sudbury woman is sharing her difficulties accessing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in northern Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Week spotlights importance of water safety
As the dog days of summer push on, Lifesaving Society Ontario has designated this week National Drowning Prevention Week.
-
Strike deadline looms at Sault’s Group Health Centre
Members of CUPE Local 894 who work at the Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie have voted in favour of a strike to back their contract demands and are scheduled to hit the picket lines July 26.
-
Sault suspect charged with stabbing after argument escalates
An 18-year-old has been charged with aggravated assault after a dispute between two people ended with a knife attack in Sault Ste. Marie.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa Coun. Matthew Luloff charged with impaired driving
Ottawa Coun. Matthew Luloff is facing a charge of impaired driving, according to his lawyer. The Conservative Party tells CTV News Ottawa that Luloff resigned his candidacy on July 10 'due to a personal matter.'
-
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
-
Ottawa police investigating link between Hampton Park homicide and fatal shooting at wedding last fall
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs says there is a link between a recent homicide in the city and a shooting at a wedding last fall that claimed the lives of two men who police said were not intended targets.
Toronto
-
Lengthy ferry lineups spur renewed call for bridge to Toronto islands
There are renewed calls for the city to work toward building a bridge to the Toronto Islands following a weekend which saw lengthy lineups to access Toronto's aging ferry fleet.
-
Anti-gun violence advocate, community leader Louis March has died
Louis March, a long-time Toronto community leader, youth mentor, and well-known anti-gun violence advocate, has died.
-
11 hospitalized, 173 displaced after 4-alarm fire breaks out at Hamilton YMCA residence
Eleven people were taken to the hospital and another 173 have been displaced after a large fire broke out at a YMCA men’s residence in Hamilton early Monday afternoon.
Montreal
-
Quebec mom devastated after man who killed her daughter in hit-and-run gets out after 5 months
A Montreal-area mother is furious with Quebec's justice system because the man who killed her 25-year-old daughter in a 2022 hit-and-run was released from jail after only serving one-sixth of his sentence behind bars.
-
U.S. drops planned regulations for dogs crossing border from rabies-free countries
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control will not require onerous forms for dog owners crossing the border from Canada this summer.
-
What to know about the Canadian ties of Kamala Harris, Biden's choice for successor
U.S. President Joe Biden is stepping aside as the Democratic candidate in that country's November election and throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris -- a Montreal-area high school graduate who spent several years in the city.
Atlantic
-
Police identify body of man who washed ashore on Nova Scotia's Sable Island
Nova Scotia RCMP has identified one of the bodies found on Sable Island earlier this month.
-
14-year-old dies in motorcycle crash in P.E.I.
A 14-year-old male died in a motorcycle crash in Murray River, P.E.I., on Saturday.
-
Saint John police looking for man last seen on boat
The Saint John Police Force is looking for a 75-year-old man who was last seen in a boat Monday afternoon.
Winnipeg
-
Sage Creek residents looking at possible watch group to help curb crime
Residents in a south-Winnipeg neighbourhood are ready to take matters into their own hands following a rash of car break-ins late last week.
-
'It's a bright future': Fisher River Cree Nation buys Rubin Block
Now there is a plan to put the Rubin Block to use once again. Fisher River Cree Nation has purchased the building for housing. It will have 13 units of one, two, three, and four-bedroom suites for families.
-
Zebra mussels found in popular Manitoba waterway
The Manitoba government is dealing with another discovery of zebra mussels.
Calgary
-
Calgary woman, 19, identified as victim in weekend homicide
Calgary police have identified a woman who was killed in a shooting in the community of Vista Heights over the weekend.
-
Sundre woman accused of sexual assault pleads not guilty; alleged victim speaks out
In a Didsbury courtroom on Monday, 33-year-old Alexa Suitor, accused in a series of sexual offences involving four teenage boys, entered pleas of not guilty.
-
IN PICTURES
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Edmonton
-
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
-
A historic Edmonton heat wave
The past week has been the hottest stretch of weather on record for the City of Edmonton.
-
Man accused of murder of St. Albert teen previously charged in 2016 double stabbing
The man charged in the death of a St. Albert teenager has a criminal past.
Regina
-
Here are the routes WestJet is expanding in Sask.
WestJet has announced some big changes to its flight schedules – allowing more options for travellers in Saskatchewan.
-
Sask. judge dismisses challenge of Regina’s new ward boundaries
A Court of King's Bench judge has dismissed a challenge of Regina's new ward boundaries.
-
Funeral date set for Isabella 'Bella Brave' Thomson
A funeral date has been set for Isabella Thomson – the social media starlet who compelled millions with her medical journey.
Saskatoon
-
Smoke blankets much of Saskatchewan to start the week
If you're in the northern or central Saskatchewan, then you've likely been in the thick of the smoke – largely the result of fires burning across the province's north.
-
'Incredibly hot': St. Paul's Hospital went without air conditioning for days
An air conditioning system shut down at St. Paul's Hospital caused heat exhaustion for some staff over the weekend, according to Service Employees International Union West (SEIU-West), which represents a number of healthcare workers.
-
Here are the routes WestJet is expanding in Sask.
WestJet has announced some big changes to its flight schedules – allowing more options for travellers in Saskatchewan.
Vancouver
-
Emotions running high as wildfires threaten B.C. towns
As the province enters the heart of wildfire season, British Columbia communities threatened by flames are under extreme stress and facing a range of emotions with the uncertainty of whether they’ll have to flee their homes, and whether they’ll have anything to come back to.
-
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
-
'Every day': Bear sightings surge on the North Shore
Adam Perzow says bear encounters in his neighbourhood have become routine.
Vancouver Island
-
Crews battling human-caused wildfire near Sooke, B.C.
Crews are responding to a new wildfire that sparked in the Sooke Potholes Regional Park on Vancouver Island Monday afternoon.
-
'Aggressive burning conditions' fuel growth of B.C.'s Shetland Creek wildfire
More aggressive fire behaviour is expected Monday on the Shetland Creek Wildfire, which has destroyed structures, forced evacuations and led to the closure of a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway in south-central B.C.
-
Member of Hells Angels support club in B.C. sentenced to 12 years for drug charges, police say
A Kelowna, B.C., man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on drug-trafficking charges following a years-long crackdown on the Throttle Lockers Motorcycle Club, according to the province's anti-organized crime task force.
