Closer Look

Send us a textTonight on 'Closer Look': The plight of a lone sailor seemingly stuck in Georgian Bay ice has created quite a stir in Penetanguishene, with nearby residents concerned about his safety as winter settles in.Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: The man in the boat.Last week, we told you about a mystery fishing boat marooned on the Toronto islands. This week, another vessel — and the person inside — are generating plenty of attention in a different region of Ontario.The plight of a lone sailor seemingly trapped in Georgian Bay ice has created quite a stir in Penetanguishene, with nearby residents concerned about his well-being as winter settles in.SEE: Concerns mount for man living on sailboat in middle of Georgian BayMidlandToday editor Andrew Philips has been covering the story. He joins us tonight with all the details.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists discuss an important story making headlines. On tonight's episode: A new report attempts to tally the homeless across the province.Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Tallying the homeless across the province.A new report commissioned by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario found that at least 81,000 people experienced homelessness in 2024 — and that the crisis "is on a trajectory to get worse" without billions in government money.The problem is especially bad in northern Ontario, where the percentage of homeless people rose by more than 200 per cent over the past eight years. SEE: Over 80,000 were homeless in Ontario in 2024, up at least 25% since 2022: AMOJoining us to break down the numbers of Charlie Pinkerton, a reporter at The Trillium at Queen's Park.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textTonight on 'Closer Look': For nearly two months, a mystery vessel has been marooned on Hanlan's Point beach on the Toronto islands. Where is the owner?Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: A mystery fishing boat marooned on the Toronto islands.First spotted in late-November by a local kayaker, the 35-foot vessel has been stuck in the same spot on Hanlan's Point beach ever since. TorontoToday reporter Gabe Oatley has been working hard to reel in all the details.SEE: After a month, boat remains aground on Hanlan's Point BeachOn Wednesday, the Toronto Police Service got involved, visiting the boat with workers from the Canadian Coast Guard, who removed “bulk amounts" of diesel and oil” from the craft.They also posted a notice, informing the boat’s owner that they have until Jan. 15th to remove the vessel from the shoreline. SEE: Owner of stranded Toronto Island boat no longer living in cabin: PoliceOatley joins us tonight to talk about this hull of a story.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of an important story making headlines around the province. On tonight's episode: An early election in Ontario?Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Will Donald Trump trigger an early Ontario election?Premier Doug Ford fuelled more election speculation this week when he said he’d have to “put tens of billions of dollars” into the economy if the incoming U.S. president hits Canada with prolonged tariffs — but that he currently doesn’t have the electoral mandate to do that.“These tariffs are coming,” Ford told reporters at a Wednesday press conference. “Are they going to come like they did last time for five or six weeks? That's one thing. But if they last for months and months, we're going to have to do the same thing as what we did during the pandemic.“I'm going to have to put tens of billions of dollars into the economy, to save the economy, to protect Canadian, Ontario jobs," he continued. "And I don't have a mandate from the people to spend tens of billions of dollars.”SEE: Ford floats election campaign over Ontario's response to Trump tariffsOn his way back to Queen's Park from that press conference, a car collided with the OPP vehicle Ford was travelling in. "I'm OK," he told reporters. "This head's like limestone. It's hard as a rock."Joining us tonight on 'Closer Look' is Sneh Duggal, deputy editor of The Trillium.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textTonight on 'Closer Look': A century-old greenhouse at the University of Guelph is slated for demolition, but the fight is on to save it from the wrecking ballEvery weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: The fight to save a century-old greenhouse.Built in the 1930s, the D.M. Rutherford Family Conservatory has been a landmark structure at the University of Guelph for decades. But after watching it fall into a state of disrepair in recent years, the university now plans to demolish the greenhouse and replace it with a commemorative garden. That plan has triggered plenty of backlash, including an online petition that calls for the greenhouse to be saved and restored. The university says that would cost millions of dollars, which would be better spent elsewhere.SEE: Group forms to try and save historic U of G greenhouseJoining us tonight is GuelphToday reporter Richard Vivian, who has been covering the controversy. You can read his latest story HERE.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textTonight on 'Closer Look': An elusive Ontario landlord defends himself amid growing criticism — including a protest by tenants outside a home he owns in an upscale Toronto neighbourhood.Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Ontario's biggest "renovictor" finally speaks out.Earlier this year, Village Media reporters at GuelphToday and CambridgeToday told the story of Michael Klein, a Toronto businessman linked to hundreds of "renovictions" across the province. Multiple companies linked to Klein have purchased apartment buildings in different cities, mass-evicted longtime tenants in order to renovate, then rented the units to someone else at a much higher price.SEE: How is this legal? Meet the king of Ontario renovictionsIn a follow-up story published by TorontoToday, reporter Gabe Oatley caught up with Klein — who insists he follows all Ontario laws. “There’s no such thing as renoviction,” he said. Oatley is our guest on tonight's 'Closer Look.' You can read his coverage HERE.SEE: Tenants facing mass ‘renoviction’ take protest to Forest Hill home owned by elusive company directorStay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textIn this new feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of a big story making headlines around the province. On tonight's episode: The Prime Minister is walking away, so what happens now?Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Life after Justin Trudeau.After months of mounting pressure, the Prime Minister finally threw in the towel on Monday morning, announcing he will resign as Liberal Party leader and PM as soon as his party chooses a successor.SEE: Justin Trudeau announces he will resign after Liberal leadership raceWhat happens now? Village Media's Katherine DeClerq, the editor of Parliament Today, breaks it all down. You can read her coverage HERE.SEE: Justin Trudeau to resign: What happens next?Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a text​ In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Mapping out Ontario's doctor shortage.Eliot Frymire is part of a research group that investigates and analyzes primary care in Ontario. Using OHIP billing information, the researchers painstakingly drill down into postal code-based data to find out how many people have a regular source of primary care, what type of care they're getting, and where they're getting it.His takeaway: "We have a crisis everywhere."Using that data, The Trillium team at Queen's Park created a map that reveals just how widespread the problem has become.SEE: Here's where the primary care crisis is hitting Ontario hardestSome examples? In 2022, the year of the most recent data available on a geographic basis, nearly half of all residents in Sioux Lookout weren't getting regular primary care. Near both Toronto's and Ottawa's city halls, it's about one in three. The same goes for Petawawa in eastern Ontario and a portion of Mississauga near the Pearson International Airport. Reporter Jack Hauen of The Trillium joins us to break down the data. You can read his previous coverage HERE.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more video features from Village Media? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.   ​​

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: A police shooting that could have been prevented.More than three years after Mathias Bunyan was shot and killed inside his Fergus, Ont. apartment, a coroner's inquest has completed its review of the fatal encounter, which was captured on video by body cameras worn by OPP officers at the scene.One of the jury's key recommendations is that the body-cam footage — which shows Bunyan being pepper-sprayed, tasered and eventually shot multiple times in the chest — be used to help inform how future police officers are trained on conflict prevention and de-escalation when dealing with a person in a mental health crisis.Keegan Kozolanka, a reporter at EloraFergusToday, has been covering this story since the shooting occurred. He joins us tonight.

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Pedalling toward a day in court.Last month, the Ford government passed legislation that allows the province to block municipalities from creating new bike lanes that would overtake a vehicle lane. Bill 212 also gives Queen's Park the power to rip out existing bike lanes — including three in Toronto.The Conservative government is adamant that bike lanes increase traffic congestion, but a draft of a briefing document prepared for Ontario cabinet ministers — and obtained by The Trillium — warns that the opposite is true.Work to remove the Toronto bike lanes will not begin until at least March. In the meantime, the charity Toronto Cycle has filed a Charter challenge of the new law, arguing it violates cyclists' right to life, liberty and security of the person.If the lanes are removed, they argue, “many thousands of Toronto cyclists will be forced to cycle in lanes shared with motor vehicle traffic” resulting in “heightened risk of injury and death."TorontoToday reporter Aidan Chamandy and Jack Hauen of The Trillium have been leading our coverage of the ongoing story. Chamandy joins us tonight to bring you up to speed on the latest details.

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: A walk in the park.In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every weeknight, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: A walk in the park.In 2020, the B.C. Parks Foundation launched PaRx, a program that helps connect Canadians with the many health benefits of Mother Nature. Simply put, PaRx equips physicians with a unique tool: nature prescriptions. (The organization also partners with agencies like Parks Canada to provide free access for patients.)SEE: Halton doctors can now prescribe free conservation park visits for mental healthStudies have repeatedly confirmed that time spent in nature can have positive impacts on a person's physical and mental health. Research also shows that patients with a prescription are more likely to get outside than patients who are simply advised to do so.Halton Healthcare, which operates hospitals in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, just became the first hospital network in Canada to partner with PaRx. Prescribed patients can now access Conservation Halton Parks for ten free visits, which includes scenic trail hikes, wildlife spottin

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Her name was Tammy.Two decades ago, a woman's body was discovered near a highway rest stop between Guelph and Halton Hills. Although her identity remained a mystery for nearly 20 years, the woman's story never faded away, thanks to a roadside memorial installed in 2008.Earlier this year, GuelphToday reporter Isabel Buckmaster wrote a feature story about Keith Porty, who has spent the past few years meticulously repairing and maintaining the Jane Doe memorial. He also created a sign that he posted on a nearby bench. It encourages visitors to learn more about the case in the hopes someone might have information that could finally solve the mystery.Six months after that article was published, the OPP announced a major break in the cold case: using a technique known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), police confirmed the deceased woman was Tammy Eileen Penner, 41, of Chilliwack, B.C. The OPP believes Penner was the victim of foul play, and have renewed their plea for people to come forward with any information.Buckmaster joins us tonight to talk about the lingering mystery.

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: A very special roadside delivery.A family in Northern Ontario is singing the praises of two quick-thinking paramedics and a nurse who helped deliver a baby boy last weekend — on the side of a highway, in the middle of a snowstorm. The mother-to-be was being transported to a New Liskeard hospital when the two medics, Brandi Ouelette and Natasha Albert, realized they wouldn't get there in time. So they pulled over on the side of Highway 11, kept their lights blinking, and helped bring the new baby into the world.SEE: Paramedics deliver baby on Highway 11 during snowstorm“As paramedics, we are trained to handle emergencies and prepare for everything that could go wrong," the medics said in a joint statement to TimminsToday. "Often, we’re faced with severe injuries, illnesses, and loss. But this past weekend, everything went right."TimminsToday reporter Marissa Lentz-McGrath joins us with the full story. You can read her coverage HERE. Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. ​You can find all our previous segments HERE.Want to see more Village Media video features? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of an important story making headlines around the provinceIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: The case of the missing harpoons (and a whole lot more).According to records released under access-to-information laws, the Royal Ontario Museum can't find more than 2,200 items from its collection — including 136 oracle bones, 30 coins, 10 harpoons and one nativity scene.SEE: ROM can't account for 2,234 items in its collection, including 10 missing harpoonsThe missing items are enough to stock a respectable museum on their own. The ROM's chief of collections care says the quantity of missing items stems from the inventory practices that the museum used in the past, informal by modern standards. TorontoToday reporter Patrick Cain, who broke the news earlier this month, joins us to talk about his treasure of an article. You can read the full story HERE.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of an important story making headlines around the provinceIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: an inspiring work of art.The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) recently dropped the puck on its second season. To mark the occasion, artist Briony Douglas collected 127 game-used sticks from all six inaugural teams — Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota — and built a huge goalie mask that stands four feet tall and six feet wide.“It has been a long road for women in sports, and I know the PWHL has done so much to get where they are today,” Douglas said. “My hope is people will see this art and it will spark a conversation to discuss and empower the Professional Women’s Hockey League.”BurlingtonToday reporter Chris Arnold joins us to talk more about this unique creation.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of an important story making headlines around the provinceIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: Doug Ford has a plan to dismantle homeless encampments.Last year, an Ontario judge issued a precedent setting-ruling, concluding that the Region of Waterloo cannot evict people from homeless encampments unless alternative housing exists. Doing so, the judge ruled, would deprive homeless residents of their Charter rights to life, liberty and security of the person.Since then, some Ontario mayors have called on the province to use the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter and evict encampment dwellers.After weeks of floating — and defending — the possible use of the notwithstanding clause, the Ford government is now saying it may not be necessary. Instead, the government has announced it is bringing forward legislation to crack down on encampments by giving municipalities new powers and funding to allow cities to disband them.  Alan S. Hale, a reporter for The Trillium at Queen's Park, brings us up to speed on the latest developments.

Send us a textOn tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: What happened to Nuseiba Hasan?In November 2006, the young woman was driven from a Hamilton apartment to her family’s farm in Flamborough — then vanished.Police didn’t even know Hasan was missing until nine years later, when a family member let it slip that she may have been killed.Nearly two decades after she disappeared, Hamilton Police are still actively investigating the case as a homicide — and they suspect that someone in her family knows exactly what happened.In a two-part series marking the anniversary of Hasan’s disappearance, FlamboroughToday reporter Cara Nickerson takes an in-depth look at a compelling unsolved mystery. She is our guest on tonight’s ‘Closer Look.’

Send us a textOn tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: an iconic Ontario store — famous for its familiar radio ads — is closing down.Originally established in the 1800s as a warehouse for leather goods, The (Olde) Hide House opened to the public in 1980, selling jackets, purses, furniture and other high-quality goods.The store's radio ads, featured far and wide, became famous: "It's worth the drive to Acton."Customers will need to make one last drive if they plan to shop at the store again. The Hide House announced it is closing the doors for good, as soon as all remaining stock is liquidated.HaltonHillsToday reporter Herb Garbutt joins us on the show to talk about the end of an era.

Send us a textIn this new nightly feature, Village Media journalists break down the details of an important story making headlines around the provinceIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: the fight to keep a schoolgirl killer locked in prison.More than 37 years ago, a Grade 9 student named Patrizia Mastroianni was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death inside a high school bathroom in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Decades later, her murder remains one of the city’s most notorious crimes.Sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, Russell Colwell has recently ramped up his efforts to see the outside world — forcing his victim’s family to fight to keep him behind bars. Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti joins us to explain the latest developments on the case. You can read his previous coverage HERE and HERE.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. You can find all our previous segments HERE.

Send us a textIn cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find.This new feature — ‘Closer Look’ — is a chance to hear directly from those dedicated reporters and editors. Every night, Village Media’s Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our journalists to explore an important story they are covering. These in-depth conversations go beyond the headlines, helping viewers better understand how we gather the details that land in your local news feed.On tonight’s episode of ‘Closer Look’: the grocery store you can't actually shop at.SEE: The DoorDash grocery store where the public isn’t allowed insideAlthough it looks like a typical grocery store, this particular outlet in downtown Toronto is anything but. It is not open to the public. It's exclusively for DoorDash customers who use the company's food delivery app.TorontoToday reporter Kathryn Mannie joins us on the show to explain what residents think about the local grocery store they can't actually enter. You can read her full story HERE. Have you had a chance to check out TorontoToday, now serving the downtown neighbourhoods of Canada's largest city? The local news site features two free e-mail newsletters delivered straight to your inbox every day: The Stir (7 a.m.) and The Tone (3 p.m.). You can sign up for both newsletters HERE and HERE.Stay tuned for more episodes of ‘Closer Look’ every weeknight at 7 p.m. You can find all our previous segments HERE.