Thousands arrive in Barrie for massive hockey tournament this weekend
Barrie, Ont. -
Five thousand visitors will converge on the City of Barrie this weekend for one of Ontario's largest in-season female hockey tournaments, Sharkfest.
The Barrie Women's Hockey Association (BWHA) announced 124 hockey teams from across Ontario, and one from Manitoba would join 25 Barrie Shark teams from Thursday to Sunday.
Tournament director Jason McKenna said Sharkfest 2020 was called off because of COVID-19. "We have two years of excitement built up from our teams and volunteers," he added.
Over 2,000 players will hit the ice on 11 rinks in Barrie and Innisfil.
"Demand to come to Barrie was so huge we had to grow to a fourth day for the first time," McKenna said.
The event is anticipated to bring "brick business for restaurants and stores between the games."
Participating teams will arrive from Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Sarnia, Timmins, Temiskaming Shores, London, Niagara, plus dozens of teams from Greater Toronto and Hamilton.
The tournament also expects a Manitoba team that includes players from Winnipeg and surrounding areas.
"With a tournament this large, it takes an army of dedicated volunteers working hard throughout the year and putting in countless hours this weekend to make this event successful," noted BWHA President Rob Whitehead.
Last weekend, the City of Orillia welcomed 60 teams from across the province for the Jim Wilson Chevrolet Buick GMC Winter Classic hockey tournament.
Roughly 1,000 visitors arrived in Simcoe County for a weekend of competitive hockey.
The tournament in Barrie this weekend will take place despite surging COVID-19 case counts across Simcoe Muskoka.
On Wednesday, the health unit reported the highest daily case count in more than six months, with most cases listed in Barrie.
Spectators must show proof of vaccination in Barrie arenas.
Sharkfest starts Thursday evening and continues until the final medals are handed out Sunday evening.
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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Justin Trudeau's set to go after the Liberals pick his replacement, what now?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announcing Monday that he intends to resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as his party names his replacement, has set a series of political machinations in motion.
Justin Trudeau steps down as Liberal leader. Who are the top contenders to replace him?
With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation as Liberal party leader, several well-known political faces may be waiting in the wings for their opportunity to take his place.
Canada could see a wave of mortgage renewals in 2025. Here is how some homeowners plan to navigate the payment shock.
At least 1.2 million Canadians are facing a mortgage renewal in 2025, and 85 per cent of those existing home loans were contracted when the Bank of Canada’s interest rate was at or below one per cent. Here's how some homeowners are planning to navigate the increased payments.
'Together, what a great nation it would be': Donald Trump, Elon Musk react to Justin Trudeau's resignation
Amid news of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation as leader of the Liberal party on Monday morning, reactions from prominent figures began piling in.
Strong earthquake kills at least 95 people in western China near Mount Everest
A strong earthquake shook a high-altitude region of western China and areas of Nepal on Tuesday, damaging hundreds of houses, littering streets with rubble and killing at least 95 people in Tibet.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck seek judge's approval of divorce settlement
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have settled their divorce and are asking a judge to finalize their breakup.
Scottie Scheffler withdraws from another tournament, hopes to play at Pebble Beach
Scottie Scheffler withdrew from The American Express on Monday, saying his right hand has not fully recovered from minor surgery to repair a glass puncture over Christmas.
‘China is the problem’: Ford says now is not the time for U.S. to 'disrupt' trade with higher tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada is not to blame for America’s economic woes and instead is pointing the finger at China for shipping and distributing “cheap parts” through Mexico.
Trudeau says Parliament is 'prorogued' until March. What does that mean?
In his resignation speech on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Parliament would be prorogued until March, which will give the Liberal party time to find a new leader ahead of an expected confidence vote and early election.
Kitchener
-
Uncertainty surrounds college semester in Ontario as strike deadline looms
Students at Ontario’s 24 public colleges are beginning their winter semester under the cloud of a potential strike.
-
Tenants group demands action as high rents persist despite rising vacancies
According to the Fall 2024 Rental Market Report from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC,) the vacancy rate in Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo has reached its highest level since 1993.
-
Justin Trudeau to step down as PM following Liberal leadership race
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader, and is proroguing Parliament as the Liberal Party of Canada embarks on the journey to replace him.
London
-
Local MLB prospects Dylan O'Rae and Adam Hall preparing for spring training
Milwaukee Brewers prospects Dylan O’Rae and Adam Hall are getting in daily workouts at Centrefield Sports (CFS) in London, Ont. as they prepare for the warm Arizona sun next month.
-
New lawn signs to educate and reduce conflict over naturalized front yards in London
An advisory committee at city hall is offering new signs meant to end turf wars between London homeowners with naturalized yards and those with manicured lawns.
-
The January deep freeze is here - temperatures set to hold steady and cold
We’re in for a brisk start to the week, set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Windsor
-
Committee votes to keep entire Roseland Golf Course heritage designation
A proposal to remove the heritage designation from parts of the Roseland Golf Course received heavy scrutiny on Monday night from area residents.
-
Lakeshore dog owners no longer need to buy annual dog tags
The Municipality of Lakeshore has made the decision to stop its annual dog tag program, effective as of Jan. 1.
-
OHL recognizes two Windsor Spitfires
Two Windsor Spitfires are being recognized by the Ontario Hockey League this week.
Northern Ontario
-
Two Greater Sudbury drivers charged in racing incident on Hwy. 69
Ontario Provincial Police stopped to vehicles travelling more than double the speed limit on Highway 69 south of Greater Sudbury, early Friday morning.
-
New threshold for reporting collisions in Ontario
Ontario has increased the threshold dictating when drivers are required to report a collision to police.
-
Hwy. 17 traffic complaint leads to impaired, other charges
Provincial police have charged a 33-year-old man from Gravenhurst after another motorist reported a possible impaired driver.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Northwestern OPP share winter road safety tips
Police in northwestern Ontario are sharing tips to remain safe on the roads during cold winter weather.
-
Northwestern Ont. police seek help with historic robbery investigation
The Kenora Ontario Provincial Police detachment is requesting the public's assistance in identifying a suspect in a previously reported robbery.
-
Sault woman charged with assault, criminal harassment
A Sault Ste. Marie woman was arrested Friday following an earlier morning disturbance.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa mayor says prorogation of parliament gives city time to work with MPs on transit funding request
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he remains optimistic that the City of Ottawa will eventually get the transit funding it has requested from the federal government, despite Monday's announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Parliament has been prorogued and that he intends to step aside as Liberal leader and prime minister.
-
Ottawa's new north-south O-Train opens to the public
A large crowd gathered at Bayview Station just before 6 a.m. for a chance to be the first person to ride on the new north-south Line 2 Monday morning. The new north-south Line 2 and Line 4 runs from Bayview Station to Riverside South, with a link to the Ottawa International Airport.
-
Justin Trudeau to step down as PM following Liberal leadership race
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader, and is proroguing Parliament as the Liberal Party of Canada embarks on the journey to replace him.
Toronto
-
Canada could see a wave of mortgage renewals in 2025. Here is how some homeowners plan to navigate the payment shock.
At least 1.2 million Canadians are facing a mortgage renewal in 2025, and 85 per cent of those existing home loans were contracted when the Bank of Canada’s interest rate was at or below one per cent. Here's how some homeowners are planning to navigate the increased payments.
-
‘China is the problem’: Ford says now is not the time for U.S. to 'disrupt' trade with higher tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada is not to blame for America’s economic woes and instead is pointing the finger at China for shipping and distributing “cheap parts” through Mexico.
-
Greater Toronto home sales dip in December to cap 'transitionary' 2024: board
Greater Toronto home sales fell slightly last month to cap a year that saw buyers take advantage of “substantial negotiating power” on price.
Montreal
-
'It was the right decision': Quebec politicians, residents react to Trudeau resignation
Elected officials in Quebec were quick to react to the major announcement in Ottawa Monday about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the path forward for the federal Liberal Party.
-
Health authorities advise caution as flu season intensifies
Quebec's Health and Social Service Ministry says the influenza season is intensifying while cases of the common cold are stabilizing. However, the situation could change rapidly as students gradually return to school this week.
-
After watching brother Cole win gold, Lane Hutson puts on show for Canadiens
Lane Hutson landed in Montreal after a long Canadiens road trip Sunday afternoon and jumped in a car to Ottawa, hoping to watch his younger brother, Cole, win world junior gold.
Atlantic
-
Names of double homicide victims in Chipman, N.B., released by police
Police in New Brunswick have released the names of two people who were killed in Chipman, N.B., late last year.
-
Suspicious death in Bible Hill under investigation: N.S. RCMP
The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating a suspicious sudden death in Bible Hill, N.S.
-
Maritime premiers, residents weigh-in on Trudeau resignation
Maritime leaders and residents react after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned as leader of the Liberal Party on Monday.
Winnipeg
-
'Different life to the party': Manitoba weighs in on Trudeau’s resignation
Manitobans are reacting to Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Liberal leader and his decision to prorogue to Parliament until March to allow for a leadership race.
-
Injunction extended against protesters in Lemay Forest
A court-ordered injunction against a group protesting the clearing of a Winnipeg forest will remain in place.
-
Man charged with voyeurism at Winnipeg fitness facility
A 26-year-old man has been charged with voyeurism after he allegedly snapped photos of a child undressing in a change room at a Winnipeg fitness facility.
Calgary
-
Justin Trudeau to step down as PM following Liberal leadership race
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Liberal leader, and is proroguing Parliament as the Liberal Party of Canada embarks on the journey to replace him.
-
Calgary's lone Liberal MP thanks Trudeau, but says it was time for him to go
Justin Trudeau's announcement on Monday that he intends to resign as prime minister and Liberal leader was needed 'to move our country forward,' says Calgary's only Liberal MP.
-
Alberta government signs new oil and gas agreement with Enbridge
The Alberta government has signed an agreement with Enbridge that Premier Danielle Smith says will increase exports of the province's heavy oil to the United States.
Edmonton
-
Alberta faces potential short-term gain, long-term pain after Trudeau quits as prime minister
Justin Trudeau's resignation as Canada's prime minister and leader of the Liberal party should benefit the province in the short term, but long-term, the importance of free trade should be central to any Albertan or Canadian effort to sway U.S. opinion with the spectre of potentially crushing tariffs looming, pundits say.
-
'We're in an epidemic': Deaths of two women in alleged domestic abuse cases raising red flags
Advocates for domestic abuse survivors say the deaths of an Edmonton woman and a Calgary mother and her father over the holidays shows domestic abuse is an “epidemic.”
-
Alberta Energy Regulator lacks evidence for tailings spill cleanup claims: ecologist's study
A new analysis of a decade's worth of data kept by Alberta's oil and gas regulator suggests the agency has made unsubstantiated claims about the success of oilsands tailings spills cleanup.
Regina
-
Trudeau's resignation could lead to changes for Sask/Ottawa relationship
Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party will be losing its most prominent "opponent" in the coming months – with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing he intends to step down pending a leadership race.
-
Sask. RCMP make arrest in suspicious death on Piapot First Nation
Saskatchewan RCMP have arrested and charged Robin Kaiswatum, 40, with second degree murder in connection to a death on Piapot First Nation.
-
Saskatchewan politicians react to Trudeau's resignation announcement
Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement on Monday, reaction from politicians around the world quickly began to circulate, including in Saskatchewan.
Saskatoon
-
Judge condemns murder trial delay, asks lawyers to 'turn around' and look at the public 'we serve'
A Saskatoon murder trial opened on Monday with the judge sharply criticizing the time it’s taken to get to trial.
-
These 90-year-old identical twins were born in a Saskatchewan barn, but grew to love the city
Rose Worona and Anne Skwarchuk were born in 1935 on a farm near Hafford. Now, they’re celebrating their 90th birthday together.
-
Province calling for prospective builders on new Sask. Polytech campus in Saskatoon
The province is putting out the call to prospective builders for a major project on the new Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus planned in Saskatoon.
Vancouver
-
B.C. politicians front and centre: Singh, Clark, others on federal stage
As the fallout from Justin Trudeau’s much-anticipated resignation announcement reverberates across Canada, at least two British Columbians will feature prominently in national politics in the coming weeks and months.
-
Hidden in plain sight: Human trafficking and the B.C. connection
You may not see it or even know it’s happening in your community. But it is an evil shrouded in the dark shadows of society, and even experts do not know its full scope.
-
January blues? B.C. Doctor shares winter mental health tips
A Lower Mainland family physician who specializes in mental health says January can be a challenging time, as people transition out of the busy holiday season and re-establish their routines.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. politicians front and centre: Singh, Clark, others on federal stage
As the fallout from Justin Trudeau’s much-anticipated resignation announcement reverberates across Canada, at least two British Columbians will feature prominently in national politics in the coming weeks and months.
-
CBSA says it acted in 'good faith' detaining solar panels in forced labour probe
The Canada Border Services Agency says it acted lawfully and in "good faith" when it detained nearly 50 containers of solar panels belonging to a Victoria, B.C., company over concerns they were made using forced labour.
-
Victoria police cleared of wrongdoing in crash that killed 24-year-old taxi driver
British Columbia's police oversight agency has cleared Victoria police officers of wrongdoing after an attempted traffic stop on a city street led to the death of an innocent man last year.
