Two tornadoes confirmed in southern Ontario following severe storms Two tornadoes have been confirmed in southern Ontario following severe storms that brought strong winds, heavy rain and damage to parts of the region. Environment Canada issued a tornado warning Saturday as meteorologists tracked a severe thunderstorm over the Orr’s Lake area in Cambridge. The warning said the storm was capable of producing a tornado, as well as damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall. The storm was moving east at about 30 km/h, with Orr’s Lake and Galt listed among the areas in its path. In Cambridge, Patricia Hill was driving through the city after leaving Brantford when she encountered significant flooding. “I could see the volume of water on the streets and cars trying to maneuver through the water and splashing onto the side streets,” she said. “And as we progressed further… we could see that flooding had gone right into storefront windows.” Hill said water reached near the top of her vehicle’s tires as she tried to make her way through the affected area. She later discovered her vehicle had been damaged. “At the next light, I stopped and got out and looked underneath, and I saw that my engine protection shield had been ripped off from the front of the fender, and I was dragging it,” she said. “Probably mid vehicle underneath, scraping along the road side, rendering it undriveable because I didn’t want it to tear and do any more damage or puncture a tire.” She said she was eventually left waiting for a tow truck. The conditions became even more concerning when tornado warnings began appearing on people’s phones. “And then all our phones started going off with tornado warnings, imminent threat, and I didn’t know if we were in imminent danger or if it was just a geographical location, which just intensified the whole situation even more,” Patricia said. “So I’m looking up at the sky, which was black at this point.” Hill said the experience left her with questions about how emergency alerts are delivered. “Another educational experience, but it would be interesting just to see where those alerts are coming from and to directly when we get them on our phone.” The warning was issued as severe weather moved through other parts of southwestern Ontario, before the Northern Tornadoes Project later confirmed two EF0 tornadoes in Lindsay and Woodstock. Dr. David Sills, director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University’s Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory, said the damage reported so far has been minor. However, the investigation in the Woodstock area is continuing as researchers assess new reports of damage to help determine the tornado’s track. Sills said there may also have been tornado damage southwest of Woodstock, but no damage reports have been received from that area. Kitchener Blues Festival performances paused The storms also caused damage and disruptions throughout Waterloo Region. In downtown Kitchener, the Kitchener Blues Festival was forced to temporarily pause performances Saturday because of a tornado warning in the area. Festival organizers said the pause was made to protect patrons, volunteers, artists and staff. Jacob Miller was attending the festival when the storm moved through. “It was pretty crazy there... this storm came in [with] lots of rain and lightning. The winds were crazy. There’s just so many tents flying everywhere. People were running inside,” he recalled. Miller said the storm damaged vendor areas and left debris throughout downtown. “A lot of vendors’ stands either were blown away or just completely destroyed by the winds and the rain,” he said. “And it was just hard to see, there’s just so many people who were completely soaked.” He said there were also branches and belongings scattered throughout the area. “There’s like three branches and there’s just a lot of belongings. So it was a really big mess to clean up,” Miller said. Performances later resumed at the Europro Stage, with Miss Emily, Steve Hill and The Sugar Darlings scheduled to perform. The YNC Stage at city hall also resumed performances, while performances at the OLG Stage remained paused pending further updates. Some vendors at the festival said their tents were blown over and damaged during the storm, along with some of the goods they were selling. Woodstock crews begin cleanup The City of Woodstock said crews continued cleanup efforts Sunday, assessing and clearing additional tree damage from sidewalks, boulevards and parks. A tree contractor was also brought in to help remove larger fallen trees and debris. The city’s cricket pitch sustained damage during the storm and was closed Sunday. According to the Woodstock Police Service, no injuries were reported and there was no reported damage to public infrastructure. Police said no weather-related road closures were in effect. Damage reported across Waterloo Region There were also reports of flooding and damage in Waterloo Region, including Soper Park in Galt and damage to vehicles. A North Dumfries Township spokesperson said the municipality was “spared from the brunt of [Saturday’s] high winds and rainfall.” “[There was] limited damage to the road network, parks or facilities. Crews [Monday] and through the early part of this coming week will deal with the localized areas where spot repairs or cleanup are required,” an email statement to CTV News read in part. CTV News has reached out to other municipalities across the region for updates on storm damage and cleanup efforts. Police looking for suspect wanted for repeated LCBO thefts in Fergus The Ontario Provincial Police are trying to identify a man who they believe is behind multiple thefts from an LCBO in Fergus. Police were called to the store on Aug. 7 around 5 p.m. They were told a man had repeatedly stolen items from the business. The latest incident was allegedly his fourth theft. On Wednesday, police released two photos of a man they are trying to identify. Anyone with more information is asked to call 1-888-310-1122. Police remind residents of road rules following e-scooter rider on Kitchener expressway Police in southwestern Ontario are warning the public about the dangers of riding electric scooters on highways after a video showing an e-scooter weaving through traffic on Highway 7/8 in Kitchener, Ont. circulated on social media. The video was shared by the Waterloo Regional Police Service on Thursday. It showed the e-scooter operator travelling on Highway 7/8 in the Ottawa Street area. “This video captures an e-scooter travelling at an excessive speed on the expressway alongside full-sized vehicles,” the post from police said. The e-scooter rider was also seen weaving between vehicles to change lanes. E-scooters not permitted on provincial highways Although highways fall under the jurisdiction of Ontario Provincial Police, Waterloo Regional Police confirmed e-scooter riders must adhere to many of the same rules cyclists do. Ontario’s e-scooter pilot program allows municipalities to decide whether to permit their use within their jurisdictions. However, e-scooters are not permitted on controlled-access highways, including 400-series highways and the Queen Elizabeth Way. The provincial pilot program also sets a maximum speed of 24 km/h for e-scooters. If a municipality allows the use of e-scooters on other highways, the scooter can only be used in a bicycle lane or, in the absence of one, along the right shoulder of the highway or as close to the edge as possible. Penalties for violations can range from $250 to $2,500. Const. Randi Crawford, a community engagement officer with the Ontario Provincial Police, is reminding riders that e-scooters are not permitted on provincial highways. “I think common sense would dictate that that’s for safety, foremost,” she said. Crawford said riders have little protection if they are involved in a collision with a vehicle. “You can see that there’s hardly any protection, right?” she said, referring to the rider in the video. ”A vehicle is a large object. Look at the damage we see between two vehicles colliding... the damage that can cause to the people inside, let alone someone who’s on a scooter who doesn’t have any protection on them whatsoever.” Weaving creates risks for motorists Crawford said a rider moving between lanes can also create a hazard for motorists who aren’t expecting to encounter an e-scooter on a highway. “So the other people around are probably thinking, what is going on? This person is not supposed to be here,” she said. “So that causes a risk in itself because... they’re in shock a little bit. It takes a second to process and then they’re slowing down. Maybe they’re looking to see if they could shift in their lanes a little bit. So, having something on the highway that is not supposed to be there is definitely a risk for everybody.” CAA South Central Ontario echoed that sentiment. Teresa Di Felice, the organization’s assistant vice-president of government and community relations, said riders can become vulnerable road users when operating around larger vehicles. “E-Scooters are designed for a very localized, limited use. I think what we see is, as an example in the video that was released, someone is doing generally not safe habits or practices,” she stated. De Felice said e-scooter riders can be difficult for motorists to see. “So these would be like pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, this is very similar to e-scooters. When someone is on an e-scooter, they become a vulnerable road user because they don’t have the same level of protections and they can’t be seen and operated the same way as a vehicle can.” Crawford said motorists who encounter an e-scooter in live highway lanes should not attempt to confront the rider. “In this particular situation, this would be an emergency situation. That person’s not only putting themselves at risk, but also those around them. So, I would encourage motorists to contact 911 and say, ‘there is a person on a scooter in these live lanes and we’re worried about their safety.’” She said drivers should also slow down and leave space around the scooter. “You want to drive defensively. And that’s just that’s not just for somebody on an e-scooter that you’re not used to seeing. It’s 24/7... every day, every night. Everybody should drive defensively and cautiously and also compassionately. Let’s all be compassionate for others and give each other space.” Health system sees motorized-device injuries The warning comes as Waterloo Regional Health Network reported 145 emergency-department visits related to falls involving electric or motorized devices during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The category included e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and other motorized devices. The health network’s emergency physicians advised against using the devices because the speeds they can reach can result in serious injuries. Di Felice said health-care providers across the province have also raised concerns about injuries involving e-scooters. “We’ve heard this from Sunnybrook Hospital, in Toronto, but also the operating a trauma center that there’s an increase in the number of injuries that that they’re seeing on people, severe injuries.” She said many injuries are sustained by the riders themselves. “It is really important to sort of take a look at what’s happening, heed the warnings, be informed, protect yourselves in whatever way, and follow the rules of the road, including not riding where you’re not supposed to.” Rules vary by municipality Crawford said the provincial pilot program is creating some confusion because municipalities can decide whether to permit e-scooters. “The e-scooter law is actually a pilot right now until 2029. So, we have quite a few years left where all the municipalities can choose whether they want to permit e-scooters in each of their municipalities or not.” Di Felice said riders need to understand the rules before using an e-scooter on public roads. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Officials said the rules are ultimately about protecting everyone on the road. “It’s not just about jumping on a e-scooter and having a joyride. There’s a lot to it, and the consequences are. It all stems from safety first. We don’t want to be the fun police. We want to get you to and from all the places you want to safely.” Eight children not properly secured in SUV during Fergus traffic stop, OPP say A driver from Fergus, Ont. is facing a long list of charges after they were pulled over with eight children in their vehicle who were either not wearing seatbelts or improperly secured. Ontario Provincial Police said the incident happened Wednesday on St. David Street North. An officer on proactive patrol received an alert from the cruiser’s Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system, indicating the driver may not have insurance. Once the Nissan Pathfinder was stopped, the officer saw that there were 11 people inside the SUV, including eight children. OPP said they were not properly secured or wearing a seatbelt. The driver, a 31-year-old from Fergus, was charged with: “The OPP reminds all motorists and passengers that wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent serious injuries and save lives,” they wrote in a media release. “Before every trip, remember to buckle-up and make road safety a priority.” Cambridge man charged in Hong Kong drug smuggling scheme A second person from Cambridge, Ont., has been arrested for his part in an international drug smuggling operation. The Waterloo Regional Police Service arrested Cameron DeSousa on Aug. 13. The 20-year-old man was charged with exporting a schedule I substance and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. The police investigation began in September 2025 after customs agents at Hong Kong International Airport found 25 kilograms of cocaine in a checked suitcase belonging to Jade, a 19-year-old woman from Cambridge. She was one of four Canadians arrested over a four-month period. Each one travelled overseas on separate flights and claimed not to know one another. Altogether, officials said they found almost 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden in their suitcases. W5, the investigative reporting unit at CTV News, spoke with the four alleged drug mules. Jade said she answered a posting for an “international package shipper,” which she thought was a legitimate job. Her recruiter texted, “We pay your flights, accommodation, food.” The salary was $5,000 per trip. W5 identified Jade’s alleged recruiter as DeSousa. When confronted, he denied any knowledge of the the trafficking scheme. “I thought it was jewelry,” he responded. “I promise I thought it was jewelry. I don’t know, I am literally just a sales rep.” One of the other drug mules was 20-year-old Ahmed Dakhi, a resident of Kitchener, Ont., who was named as a local ringleader who had direct contact with the leader, who went by the name “Dot.” When questioned by W5, he said: “I didn’t recruit anybody.” In June, Waterloo Regional Police arrested a 36-year-old man from Markham, Ont. Alexander Kwan was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession for the purpose of exportation. Police believed he was driver for the couriers. The demand for cocaine in Hong Kong is huge. It is the drug of choice for the wealthy and goes for about $200 a gram — more than double what it sells for in Canada. Hong Kong’s drug penalties are severe. Unless the accused Canadians can prove they didn’t know about the contraband, they could be sentenced to life behind bars.
