The Toronto Zoo says a postmortem examination has provided new details about the death of Kiko, a Masai giraffe that died earlier this year.

In a statement, the zoo said findings from a complete postmortem conducted by the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph were consistent with cardiac failure associated with acute muscle exertion.

The zoo said the incident occurred when Kiko’s head became trapped in a small gap between a slide-shift door and a vertical post as the door was opening.

Officials said the event resulted in almost immediate death.

The report indicated the death was linked to a condition known as exertional myopathy, which can occur during periods of intense physical activity.

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The condition involves a rapid release and buildup of muscle enzymes that can lead to tissue damage and cardiac failure.

The zoo said a CT scan did not identify any fractures or abnormalities in the giraffe’s neck, and there were no microscopic findings suggesting an underlying medical condition.

Staff described the movement of giraffes between areas as a routine procedure carried out regularly without prior incident.

“Kiko’s loss requires us to face uncomfortable facts,” the zoo said in its statement. “This tragedy stemmed from an unforeseen vulnerability when the door is opening.”

The zoo said several steps have been taken following the findings, including reviews of staff training and procedures, an independent third-party assessment of processes and human factors and a special inspection by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

An internal review of habitat retrofits is also underway, with particular attention to areas involving hydraulic doors.

The zoo said the findings provide clarity but do not lessen the impact of the loss.

“While these results cannot ease our heartbreak, they do provide some clarity during this difficult time,” the statement said.

The zoo also said it continues to monitor Mstari, a female Masai giraffe in the late stages of pregnancy, carrying Kiko’s offspring.

As for those questioning whether Kiko’s death will impact the offspring’s growth, the zoo reassured that male giraffes play little direct role in raising calves, with care primarily provided by mothers.

“Calves depend entirely on their mothers for nursing, security, and social learning.”

As the investigation continues, the zoo says they will cooperate with investigators every step of the way.

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Students in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., will not be returning to their current high school following last week’s deadly mass shooting, the local school district said in a release.

In a letter to families dated Feb. 13, School District No. 59 (Peace River South) said future plans will prioritize student safety and well-being, adding the existing school site will not reopen.

“As we create our plans, the expectation is that we will not be returning to the current high school site,” superintendent Christy Fennell wrote.

Larry Neufeld, BC Conservative MLA for Peace River South, said the prospect of students returning to the building has been a major concern within the community.

“How can you imagine a paint job and a mural and then asking children to go back into that place? I can’t imagine,” Neufeld said in an interview with Global News.

“As an adult, I would not want to go into that location. Children should not be forced into that situation.”

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Neufeld said provincial leaders have assured him students will not be required to return to the existing school.

“There will be portables brought in, there will be other accommodations made, but students won’t be forced back into that building.”

The district said supports for students and families remain available at the community recreation centre, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“We know some families will want the stability of school routines, while others may not feel ready,” Fennell wrote.

“We will share plans over the next week that prioritizes emotional and physical safety through a trauma informed lens,” the statement further read.

The decision follows the Feb. 10 shooting in Tumbler Ridge, where a teen killed eight people. Police have identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, who also died.

In the days since the tragedy in the small northeastern British Columbia community, recent memorials and vigils have taken place to honour the victims.

Nuefeld told Global News that the recent memorials and gatherings have provided an important space for grief and connection. “People went from being zombies to… allowing their emotions to be released.”

Friday night’s vigil brought many mourners together, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and opposition leader Pierre Polliviere.

“I’ve been in politics for about 16 months, and there is often a performative component to it, but what you saw yesterday was real,” Neufeld said.

BC RCMP say investigators and forensic teams continue to process the school and a nearby residence connected to the shooting.

Autopsies are expected to be completed by the end of the weekend.

More than 80 students, educators and first responders have been interviewed so far, with additional witness interviews ongoing, as the investigation progresses.

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Police have said the teenage shooter who killed eight people and herself in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., had previously been apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

In a Wednesday press conference, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said police had previously visited the home where Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, lived, and that she had been apprehended under the act on multiple occasions.

Here’s what you need to know about the act.

THE FRAMEWORK

Each province has a mental health act, which is designed to outline a legal framework of what should happen when a person with a mental illness needs treatment and protection for themselves or others.

Jonathan Morris, chief executive officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division, says the law permits police to apprehend and transport a person to a hospital or mental health facility for an assessment.

He said they can then be involuntarily admitted for treatment if a doctor deems it necessary, which means the patient cannot leave on their own terms.

There are criteria for involuntary admission: if a mental illness “seriously impairs someone’s ability to function”; if there’s a risk of deterioration or harm; if they require some form of psychiatric treatment; and if they are unwilling to be treated, Morris said.

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A doctor or nurse must complete a certificate, which grants them the right to hold that person for up to 48 hours, to assess the patient and determine if it’s safe for them to be discharged or not.

Morris, who is not privy to information about the suspect in Tumbler Ridge and was speaking generally about the act, said any patient should be comprehensively assessed and a plan should be established before they are discharged.

“I don’t know what happened in this case, but sometimes there can be, more often than not, gaps along that journey, right? People might not leave with a full picture of a diagnosis, for example,” he said.

The Canadian Press requested additional information from the province’s Health Ministry on the suspect’s mental health treatment.

The ministry said the RCMP will make decisions about what information will be released, and if key issues aren’t answered through the investigation, the government will consider measures to provide further answers.

HOW LONG CAN A PATIENT BE HELD? 

If a doctor determines a patient needs further treatment after 48 hours, they will complete a second certificate, which allows them to detain the person for another month.

The health provider can keep renewing that certificate if they think the patient needs further treatment.

“The certificates are the legal documentation that are supporting the decision to suspend, take away someone’s ability to freely leave the hospital, and also be subject to involuntary treatment,” Morris said.

“Under our law there’s no limit on total duration. The detention can be indefinite, but it needs to be supported by those renewals.”

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO TUMBLER RIDGE SHOOTING?

McDonald said Van Rootselaar had previously been apprehended under the provincial Mental Health Act on different occasions for assessment and followup. He said she was hospitalized “in some circumstances.”

He also said police had seized weapons from the home, which were later returned, and that Van Rootselaar had dropped out of school about four years ago.

When patients are discharged without a robust treatment plan, Morris said that can lead to re-admission.

“We also have seen, again, across the province, and I think this happens not just in B.C., people who repeatedly meet the criteria for an involuntary admission and are kind of repeatedly admitted and then there’s a discharge and then admitted again. That’s definitely something to pay attention to.”

He said the overlap between firearm and mental health laws will need to be thoroughly examined in the wake of this tragedy.

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Torontonians can finally expect a break from the stretch of extreme cold after last night’s special weather statement ended.

Over the Family Day long weekend, residents can expect above-seasonal temperatures on all three days starting Saturday morning, according to Environment Canada’s forecast.

On Saturday, the daytime high will rise to about 2 C, which is three times warmer than normal temperatures in mid-February.

The pleasant temperatures will also be followed by lots of sunshine carrying through into Sunday, with a daytime high of 4 C.

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On Monday, it’s expected to get slightly warmer with a high of 5 C, which will continue into Tuesday.

While it may not be patio season just yet, Torontonians can welcome the above freezing temperatures after experiencing one of the longest cold snaps in over a decade.

The cold snap, which lasted majority of January and into February, came with wind chills of – 35 on some days, as well as two major snowstorms.

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A northern Saskatchewan high school that was the site of a deadly shooting a decade ago closed for weeks before students returned to class.

Jason Young with the Northern Lights School Division says time was needed after the tragedy at Dene High School in La Loche to ensure supports and security were in place. Two died and several were injured.

“We were just in a difficult position to be able to start school again,” Young said in an interview.

“We didn’t have the resources to do that. We just needed to meet with people where they were at and slowly work together to try and start school up again.”

On Tuesday, a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and at a home in the town in northeastern B.C. left nine children and adults dead, including the shooter.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald told a news conference Friday that children need to return to school at an appropriate time.

He said he’s hopeful investigators will be out of the school as soon as possible so the town can begin to heal.

The Grade 7-12 school has roughly 160 students.

B.C. Premier David Eby told a vigil in Tumbler Ridge on Friday night that students won’t have to go back if they don’t want to.

“I will promise you that not one of you will ever be forced to go back to that school. We will provide a safe place for you to go to school.”

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Christy Fennell, superintendent of the Peace River South School District, said in a statement posted on the school’s website that it would share back-to-school plans over the next week.

“We know some families will want the stability of school routines, while others may not feel ready,” she said.

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“The expectation is that we will not be returning to the current high school site.”

RCMP said 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar first killed her mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs, and 11-year-old brother, Emmett Jacobs, at the family’s home in Tumbler Ridge.

She then headed to the high school with two guns, killing five students — Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert and Abel Mwansa Jr., all 12, and Ezekiel Schofield, 13. Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, an education assistant at the school, was also killed.

When police arrived, Van Rootselaar shot herself.

Young said there were similarities in La Loche.

On Jan. 22, 2016, a 17-year-old student killed two of his cousins at a home in the remote Dene community — Dayne Fontaine, 17, and Drayden Fontaine, 13. He then went to the school and gunned down teacher Adam Wood and a teacher’s aide, Marie Janvier, and wounded seven others.

In both cases, frightened students huddled in classrooms, consoled each other and waited.

In La Loche, Mounties announced over the school’s intercom that they had arrested the shooter.

Randan Fontaine later pleaded guilty to various counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and attempted murder. He was sentenced as an adult to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.

In the weeks that followed the shooting, the La Loche school hired security guards to ease fears over safety, Young said. RCMP also provided a resource officer to work in the building.

“We knew that one of the steps we needed to take was how do we reduce anxiety,” he said. “When you’re able to offer that type of support, staff and students can focus on what they need to do.”

The school also worked with the provincial and federal governments to provide additional mental health supports, including more counsellors.

Young said staff heard from students that they wanted to return.

“You get back to as normal education as you possibly can,” he said.

“(Teachers were) just doing the best they can, given the situation we were all dealing with.”

Security guards still remain in place at the school, he said, though the RCMP resource officer isn’t working out of the school as much.

“Part of the challenge with that is recruitment challenges,” Young said. “We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got.”

Each year on the anniversary of the shooting, the school has closed — except this year. A ceremony was held at the school to mark the 10th anniversary.

Young said students and staff will never forget what happened.

“(The anniversary) will just be a day where they can actually focus on service to others. That’s going to be the theme going forward,” he said.

“Obviously, it’s not something you can ever forget.”

Young said his school division has reached out to the Peace River South School District.

“All I can do is just continue to pray and think about those that are affected in that community,” he said.

“I know that they too will be resilient through this, as difficult as it is right now.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2026.

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Katrina Sison was on her way to a volleyball game. But something felt off.

“I just had shortness of breath, like really bad shortness of breath. I decided to go to the emergency [room] instead,” Sison said.

At 38, Sison, from Pickering, Ont., never suspected her heart might be in crisis. “I got the ECHO (echocardiogram) exam, and the cardiologist told me that I would have to do surgery that day or the next day.”

St. Michael’s Hospital cardiac surgeon Dr. Subodh Verma said Sison had an ascending aortic aneurysm that was close to eight centimetres and rapidly expanding.

“This is a catastrophic problem, and it was growing fast,” Verma said. “They say time is muscle, but time was life for her — she was literally going to pass away if we had not operated on her.”

Verma holds the Canada research chair in cardiovascular surgery and is used to managing close calls and difficult surgeries on the operating table.

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Tom Scherbluk, 58, from Alliston, Ont., another one of Verma’s patients, also had no clue anything was amiss with his health. Last summer, he got a wakeup call.

“I was at home, I was downstairs, just checking on some files, making sure that I was organized for the next day,” Scherbluk recalled. “Suddenly I was just out of the chair, on the floor in absolute agony.”

“We rapidly brought him to St. Michael’s Hospital, where … I operated on him again almost all night to get him through,” Verma said. “We weren’t able to close his chest for the first few days because of the bleeding.”

Verma said undiagnosed high blood pressure was a contributing factor in Scherbluk’s episode, which ended up being diagnosed as an aortic dissection, a life-threatening tear in the aorta’s inner layers that causes blood to rush through, resulting in further splitting.

“That tear really progresses every hour and gets worse and can lead to sort of death within the first 24 to 48 hours. It can lead to disabling strokes, it can lead to a heart attack, it could lead to kidney damage. It is one of the most important emergencies that we attend to,” Verma said.

A new report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada says more than 8.2 million adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

According to the most current Canadian guidelines published in 2025, the definition of high blood pressure for adults is at or above 130/80 mm Hg.”Recent evidence shows a substantially increased cardiovascular risk starting at this revised threshold … and is stricter than previously recommended,” the report states.

“Hypertension doesn’t usually have a lot of signs,” Verma explained. “That’s why people are sort of walking around not knowing that they could be at risk of an aortic dissection.”

Mahee Dharen Dharmalingam, 55, learned about his risk after his family doctor ordered an echocardiogram during a routine visit, which revealed an aneurysm.

“My family doctor said, given your age, you’re just on the borderline. I’m going to refer you to a cardiologist,” Dharmalingam said.

After being followed for some time, the aneurysm grew, and the situation became more critical. “They did several tests, and said, ‘Hey, we have to do this surgery as soon as possible,” Dharmalingam said.

Doctors caution that heart disease does not always present itself the way people see it dramatized in movies or on TV.

“In reality, heart disease can take many shades and colours. Sometimes it can present acutely, sometimes it presents sort of insidiously, sometimes it can take different kinds of manifestations,” Verma said. “They don’t have risk factors; they don’t have traditional reasons to suspect that they may actually have such a significant problem. Oftentimes, regrettably, the first presentation is death.”

This Valentine’s Day, as matters of the heart are top of mind, Verma’s message is simple: Know your risk. Get checked out. Be vigilant.

“If you suspect that you have heart disease or you have risk factors or you have a family history, you know, attend with your family physician, attend with your specialist, you know, get yourself evaluated,” Verma said. “The heart is much more than a symbol of love; it is a symbol of life, it is life. And in that heart, as heart surgeons, we remain in awe of the absolutely remarkable organ that this is.“

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Modern dating can be difficult for many in today’s world, with the popularity of online dating and love being one swipe away.

“It’s less about … going to a person like presently in person and talking to them and it has become more of like Instagram DMs or Snapchat so there’s less courage involved,” said Mateo Trejo.

“You don’t get to meet new people,” Ruth Chepchirchir added. “Unless you push yourself to talk to people.”

Some say dating apps are tough to navigate, with a growing trend of ‘throw-away’ and ‘hookup’ culture.

“It’s kind of like just putting yourself on like a shelf in a grocery store, just kind of letting people pick and choose and whatnot,” said Mark Hignett

However, dating apps can be a good way to connect for some communities.

“When you’re in the queer community, it’s kind of harder to find people. Your dating pool is a little bit smaller. So, the apps kind of help you actually find people who are also going to be gay,” said Emily Soles.

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Mathieu Lajante is a marketing professor at the Toronto Metropolitan University. He says dating apps are meant to keep people swiping with the excitement that there is always something better around the corner.

“It’s endless. So until you kind of trap in this, you know, the process when you try again and again and again, until you get something you expect to be big, you just develop this culture that, you know, I’m shopping, basically,” Lajante said.

“I’m shopping and there is no consequences because I have no emotional connections, no financial connection whatsoever. So, you, know, it’s very easy.”

Lajante goes on to add, “”If you get this feeling that you’re exhausted, you have a self-perception that is degrading. It’s not because of you, it’s because of the way those apps work.”

Lianne Tregobov, president of the popular matchmaking service Camelot Introductions, says in recent years, people are getting fed up with the dating apps and are looking to go the more traditional route.

“2024, I thought was going to be our busiest year in history. People had had enough and they want the real connection,” Tregobov said.

“So 2025 came and it was better than 2024. My phone is ringing every single day with people from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.”

Tregobov says she has seen about a 25-35 per cent increase in clients year after year since 2024 and around 50 per cent of her clients are from Saskatchewan.

She says people may be turning away from dating apps because online, people have the opportunity to treat others anyway they choose. But whether using dating apps or coaches, she says it’s important to go outside to meet new people and make new connections.

“It’s really important that you get involved in activities that are of interest to you. Pickleball, for example, there’s lots of people who you may be able to meet there,” Tregobov said. “Doing crafts, taking a cooking class or a dance class, those are wonderful ways to meet people.”

Watch above for more on the modern dating world and how people are looking for love in Saskatchewan.

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A 13-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a tragic chairlift mishap during a school trip to a western Quebec ski hill is in hospital, according to a news release from Centre Vorlage.

Sgt. Martin Fournel, a spokesperson for the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais, said the incident occurred as the student was riding a chairlift alone on Wednesday afternoon at a resort near Wakefield.

“The girl was alone on the chairlift. She had almost reached the summit and when it came time to get off, a piece of clothing got caught in the chair; the 13-year-old girl got tangled up in the chair and so wasn’t touching the ground,” Fournel said.

“No one got there quickly enough to get her out of that sad situation. I’ll spare you some of the details, but at one point, there was a decision to reactivate the lift and bring the girl back down to the bottom of the hill, where our officers and first responders took over.”

Fournel did not provide any additional updates on the girl’s condition.

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In a statement, the ski hill said first responders were called to the unloading area of ski lift B at approximately 2:10 p.m.

“We have been informed that the victim was transported to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO),” the statement said.

“The Centre Vorlage team is deeply saddened by this accident that occurred today,” said Alexandre Gaboury, co-owner of the resort.

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones.”

The resort said it is cooperating with police as the investigation continues.

In a statement to Global News, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said supports have been put in place for students and staff.

“Our thoughts are with the student, their family, and the entire school community during this deeply difficult time,” said Diane Pernari, the board’s general manager of communications and public relations.

“Student well-being is always paramount, and we have taken immediate steps to support those affected, including ensuring mental health professionals were available to assist students and staff following the trip and in the days ahead.”

The incident is currently under investigation.

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A 40-year-old Regina man is facing dozens of charges following a police investigation into a series of retail thefts and a robbery spanning roughly a year.

Regina police say the incidents occurred between February 2025 and Feb. 12, 2026, with most of the reported thefts taking place at liquor stores in the city’s north end.

Grocery retailers and other businesses in other areas of Regina were also targeted.

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Police say the robbery charge stems from an August 2025 incident at a business in the 1600 block of Dewdney Avenue.

Investigators allege a suspect entered the store, took an item from a shelf and assaulted an employee before fleeing, according to surveillance footage that was reviewed.

Police say the suspect was located and arrested Wednesday night by patrol officers following a report of a theft at a business.

A 40-year-old man has been charged with 30 counts of theft under $5,000 and one count of robbery.

He made his first appearance in Regina provincial court Thursday.

Police say retail theft remains an enforcement priority, noting that the service uses a multi-pronged strategy that includes tracking crime trends, identifying repeat offenders and encouraging businesses to report incidents.

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