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Eight people shot at wedding not the intended targets, police say

Eight people shot at wedding not the intended targets, police say

The six people injured alongside the two victims of Saturday night’s shooting were not the intended targets.

Good morning!

You’ll notice things might be a bit different today. One thing I haven’t mentioned to you all these past few months is that my wife and I are expecting our first child. Now that day may be almost upon us, and I’ve had to step away a bit from the newsletter for today. I may be back with you next week, I may not. The timing is very much in the baby’s hands right now.

Today’s edition will be a bit shorter than usual, because of how suddenly things have moved forward. But expect things to pick up a more steady rhythm in the coming days.

In the meantime, Charlie Senack has stepped in at the last moment for today’s issue. Charlie is the editor of the Kitchissippi Times, and a general journalist-about-town. You may recognize his name from some of the stories we’ve linked to in the past.

But before I let you get to the newsletter, I have a bit of a favour to ask. This weekend is the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope. My family is walking this year in memory of my step-mother Nancy, who died earlier this year of the disease.

As my dad wrote in a note to some of our friends and family:

“What needs to be done, you ask? Basically, we need considerably more ovarian cancer research funding in Canada to develop better (earlier) detection tools, produce more effective, targeted and less intrusive treatments that can eliminate or at least drive the cancer growth into remission. Simply put, if we can detect ovarian cancer sooner and apply effective treatments, the life expectancy of the patient increases.

“The pain and suffering that Nancy endured during her courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer was excruciating. Let’s see if we can help ensure that no one should have to endure that in the future.”

You can donate to Team Nancy here. All of the money goes to Ovarian Cancer Canada to fund research and education. And until 11 am on Saturday, donations will be matched because of a generous donation to the organization.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated this year, and to everyone who’s decided to pitch in today. It means the world to my family and I.

Now, let’s get to the newsletter.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

Consider forwarding this to your friends so they can discover the Lookout. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

Weather Report

Friday: 22 🌡️ 16| 🌧️

Saturday: 24🌡️ 16 | ⛅️

Sunday: 23 🌡️ 15 | ⛅️

Monday: 23 🌡️ 15 | 🌥️

CRIME

Double Ottawa homicide victims not the intended target

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs. Ottawa Police/Handout

What happened: Over the weekend, eight people were shot outside of the Infinity Convention Centre at Uplands and Hunt Club. Six people were injured and two were killed, according to Ottawa Police. The force said Wednesday the people who were killed and wounded were not the target of the attack.

The victims were identified as Toronto residents Said Mohamed Ali, 26, and Abdishakur Abdi-Dahir, 29.

The incident occurred as two weddings were being held inside. Guests pulled the fire alarm and ran for cover as they heard the sounds of over 50 bullets being fired. At a press conference on Wednesday, police said all victims were not the intended targets, and they were still putting together a suspect description.

Gang connection: Police said they believe it was a targeted attack and that the shooters believed their targets were attending the wedding. They suspect it was likely linked to gang activity, and noted they were unsure how many shooters were involved.

According to reporting by CTV Ottawa, Supt. Jamie Dunlop told reporters: “This is why we want witnesses….we have conflicting evidence, conflicting accounts and that's the type of thing we want to settle.”

Police are asking anyone with information or cellphone, security, or dash cam footage to contact their homicide unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.

Mayor’s proposal: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he wants to give police more money to fight gun crime. “We have to put more resources behind this and we have to devote more of the police budget to fighting guns and gangs in our city,” he told CBC.

A draft police budget is looking for an overall increase of $13.3 million between a 2.5 percent increase on the annual police tax added to property bills and from growth in the city’s tax base, CTV reported.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

💰 5%: The number the Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at. [CTV]

🏡 $712,697: The average price of a home in Ottawa this year. [Ottawa Business Journal]

🌞 33 C: Ottawa breaks record for hottest Sept. 6. [CTV]

HEALTHCARE

Masking returns next week to Ottawa Hospitals

Robert Hiltz/Ottawa Lookout

The Ottawa Hospital will start strengthening its mask mandates on Sept. 11 as the city deals with a surge in COVID-19 cases, it announced on Twitter.

What it means: Masking will now be required in clinical areas and waiting rooms, alongside in patients rooms, nursing stations, and ambulatory care areas. It will be optional but encouraged in non-clinical areas such as hallways and cafeterias.

Why: According to the Ottawa Citizen, eight additional city residents have died from COVID-19 in the last week, with 163 new cases confirmed. The numbers are severely underrepresented as rapid test results are not counted. Wastewater testing in Ottawa has also seen a rise in viral loads, with statistics mirroring what was seen in the spring.

Ottawa is currently reporting 12 new institutional outbreaks in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, group homes, and long-term care homes. A total of 26 outbreaks are being reported.

THE AGENDA

🛻 Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are back in court for the third day. The court was shown selections from hours of social videos posted by the two protest leaders compiled by the force rallying people to their cause. [Ottawa Citizen]

🚘 An Ottawa driver faces a stunt driving charge after going 60 km/h over the speed limit on Limebank Road. [CTV]

🚌 OC Transpo is facing a multimillion-dollar deficit as it struggles with low ridership. The deficit projection is now estimated to end up at $40.8 million by the end of the year, up from the $39 million the agency expected in the budget. The transit agency also announced a new payment system to allow you to pay by tapping your credit card or phone payment system. [CTV/OC Transpo]

🚌 OC Transpo will trial on-demand transit with a pilot project in Blackburn Hamlet. Riders can request a pick-up and drop-off at their nearest stop for trips to Blair Station. The service will use spare ParaTranspo buses and the city said won’t interfere with ParaTranspo service, but some users of the critical service are skeptical. [CBC]

🚂 VIA rail is returning to pre-pandemic levels for routes, adding two round trips between Ottawa and Toronto. [The Canadian Press]

EVENTS

What to do this weekend

Sports

🤼‍♂️ Mystery Wrestling - Volume 3, Friday 7 pm: It’s wrestling. It’s mysterious. It’s the third edition. It’s at 94 Rue du Patrimoine, Gatineau. Tickets $25.

Kids/Family

😻 Ottawa Cat Show, Sept. 23-24, 9 am-4:30 pm: Come see stunning cats, shop from a variety of vendors, listen to a presentation. At the Nepean Sportsplex. Tickets $10 adult, $5 seniors/children, $25 family. Learn more today.*

Food

🍗 Metcalfe Fall Feast Chicken Dinner, Sept. 9 at 4 pm: The annual feast in the rural village of Metcalfe. Chicken dinner with all the fixings. At Victoria Park in Metcalfe. Tickets available by email [email protected] or by phone 613-979-4718.

🍂 Harvest - A Feast of Fall, Sept. 13: A foodie fundraiser for YouTurn Youth Support Services. At All Saint Event Space, 330 Laurier Ave. Tickets $102.

General

🧶 Almonte Fibrefest, until Sunday: Demonstrations vendors and more, on all things textiles. Interested in spinning, knitting, weaving, rug hooking, lacemaking, smocking or quilting? This is the festival for you. At the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, 3 Rosamond St. East, Almonte. Admission $8.

🛠️ Repair Café at Zibi, Saturday 10 am: Have a toaster on the fritz? Socks with holes in them? Broken stuff? Bring it out where a team of local volunteers will repair your items to help reduce waste. At Zibi - La Ruelle, 15 rue Jos-Montferrand, Gatineau. Free.

📸 Orléans Photo Club (CPOPC) Returns, Saturday 10 am: Its first in-person meeting since the pandemic. Guests are welcome and they hope to see many returning members. With talks on all sorts of photo techniques so you can hone your craft. At Queenswood Heights Community Centre, 1485 Duford Dr. Learn more.

Market

🌾 Barrhaven Harvest Fest, Sunday 10 am: Celebrate the harvest season with all the best from local producers and vendors from Ottawa Artisans. There’ll also be a giant inflatable slide, face painting, and more. At Nepean Woods Park and Ride, Strandherd at Crestway. Free.

📖 Sunday Raws Sale, Sunday: Come on out to the Carp Road Flea Market in Stittsville where Haul Rat Comics will be selling $4 back-issue comics for 25 percent off. At 2079 Carp Rd. Free.

Culture

💥 Ottawa Comiccon, Friday to Sunday: Featuring the Trailer Park Boys, Jason Issacs, Christopher Ecclestone, Gates McFadden, Lou Ferrigno, Billy West, Charles Martinet (the just-retired voice of Mario) and plenty more of your favourites are in town. Adult tickets start at $35.

📚 Gatineau Book Festival, Friday and Saturday: Local and international authors celebrate International Literacy Day in this festival of reading. With talks about the craft of writing and more, with plenty of vendors, signings, and prizes from local merchants. Free.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 New Edinburgh Street Fest, Saturday 10 am: A walking tour and open house of New Edinburgh Village, including an open house in three historic homes, porch concerts, a beer and wine tent, a talk on the Scottish roots of the village and a concert at St. Bartholomew’s Church, and much, much more. A charity fundraiser for Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families. At 62 John St. Tickets $32.

*Sponsored content

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

The Senators signed star defenceman Jake Sanderson to an eight-year contract extension worth $64.4 million. It locks up a vital piece of the team’s young core. [CTV]
Sunday will be a special drop off for all your hazardous waste at Tunney’s Pasture from 8 am to 4 pm. Drop off your paint cans, batteries, fluorescent bulbs and more. [City of Ottawa]
Have you seen this cat? They were lost Tuesday in the Heron Park area. [Reddit]
Another lost pet: Rocky has been missing from the Alta Vista area for more than 50 days. Have you seen him? [Reddit]
With spooky season almost upon us, Reddit users are sharing their eerie experiences in the nation’s capital. [Reddit]
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