351: The 2018 Toronto Van Attack
Episode 353: On April 23, 2018, a bright spring afternoon turned into a nightmare when a rented van plowed through pedestrians along Yonge Street in North York, a Toronto neighbourhood. In just minutes, 10 lives were tragically lost, and 16 others were injured; one of those later passed away from her injuries, bringing the death toll to 11. The community was left mourning, and the country grappled with questions of how and why such a senseless act could occur.
The man behind the wheel was 25-year-old Alec Minassian, a self-proclaimed member of the so-called “incel” community—short for “involuntary celibate.” This online subculture, rooted in misogyny and resentment, has been linked to acts of violence, often targeting women. Minassian’s actions that day were not random; they were a calculated act of terror fueled by a toxic ideology that glorifies hatred and violence against those perceived as rejecting or oppressing men like him.
Sources:
Backgrounder: Yonge Street Incident | Toronto.ca
Alek Minassian Case: Agreed Statement of Facts | PDF
Alek Minassian Interview | PDF
Diverting Hate – Bi-Annual Report September 2023 | PDF
Victim Impact Statements | PDF | Justice criminelle | Crime et violence
Exhibit # 6 – Doc-Victim Impact Statement From R. FORSYTH | PDF
CJEM-v1n1-Rozdilsky-Snowden.-Toronto-Van-Attack
April 24, 2018 episode transcript | CBC Radio
TPSNews.ca | Stories | Witnesses Sought to Yonge-Finch Investigation
Toronto van attack: Eyewitness accounts
Witnesses say they are still struggling nearly 1 year since the deadly Toronto van attack
Alek Minassian booked by police after Toronto van attack – YouTube
Alek Minassian confesses in police interview after Toronto van attack – YouTube
Toronto police on Const. Ken Lam, officer who arrested van attack suspect – YouTube
Toronto van attack suspect says he was ‘radicalized’ online by ‘incels’
Incels.co – Involuntary Celibate
incel lingo.pdf | Human Sexuality
Incels (v1.2) by Aleph | Human Sexual Activity
Policybrief Violent Extremists Incels
OPV – Extremism and Hate Motivated Violence in Alberta – 2 | Extremism | Violence
Alek Minassian admits to planning, carrying out van attack | Watch News Videos Online
Toronto van attack – Wikipedia
Alek Minassian admits to planning, carrying out Toronto van attack | Globalnews.ca
Toronto van attacker sentenced to life in prison, no parole for 25 years
2021 ONSC 1258 (CanLII) | R. v. Minassian | CanLII
Why attackers use vehicles as weapons to kill innocent people in crowds
Vehicle Ramming: The Evolution of a Terrorist Tactic Inside the US
Democratization of terrorism: an analysis of vehicle-based terrorist events by Ryan Scott Houser
Elliot Rodger meticulously planned Isla Vista rampage, report says
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352: THe Westray Mine Disaster
Episode 352: At 5:18 a.m. on May 9, 1992, in Plymouth, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, in the Westray Mine, a methane gas explosion, followed by a coal dust blast, ripped through the underground tunnels, claiming the lives of 26 miners working the night shift.
The tragedy unfolded against a backdrop of known safety violations and ignored warnings. In the aftermath, a gripping rescue attempt captivated the nation as teams of drägermen braved hazardous conditions in a desperate search for survivors. The bodies of 15 miners were recovered during the initial rescue and recovery efforts. However, the remains of 11 miners were never recovered and remain entombed deep within the mine to this day.
Despite criminal charges being filed against the mine owners and its management, no convictions were secured due to the complexity of establishing legal responsibility. More than ten years later, the federal government introduced amendments to the Criminal Code in response to this tragedy.
Sources:
The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 1: Coal
World Coal Consumption: Past, Present, and Future
Parks Canada – Beginnings of Coal Mining National Historic Event
History of Mining | Mining Museum
Coal in Canada | Canadian Encyclopedia
1860s Accidents | Not Your Grandfathers Mining Industry, Nova Scotia, Canada
A Short History of Blame: The Doctrine of Progress
Canada’s Deadliest Mining Disaster – Coal – Alberta’s Energy Heritage
Nova Scotia’s Historic Underground Coal Mine Workings Information
Nova Scotia Archives | Mining Disasters
Nova Scotia Archives | Men in the Mines
Miners Memorial Day: Davis Day
Stellarton, NS | Canadian Encyclopedia
Westray Disaster | Canadian Encyclopedia
Westray Coal Mine Disaster | New Scotland
Death by Consensus: The Westray Story
The Westray Mine Disaster and its Aftermath: The Politics of Causation
The Road From Westray: A Predictable Path to Disaster? by Eric Tucker
The Westray Story: A Tragic Tale and the Law that Followed
Criminal liability for workplace deaths and injuries – Background on the Westray Law
20th Anniversary of the Westray Law
Westray: 30 Years – USW Canada
Still Dying for a Living by Stephen Bittle
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351: Killed on the Job: Constable Emmanuel Aucoin
Episode 351: On March 8, 1987, a routine Sunday morning traffic stop on a quiet stretch of Route 640 between Yoho Lake and Hanwell to the southwest of Fredericton, New Brunswick, turned into a tragedy that shocked the nation. Constable Emmanuel “Manni” Aucoin, a 31-year-old highway patrol officer, husband and father of two young children, was shot and killed in the line of duty. His murderer, Anthony Phillip Romeo, an American fugitive who was wanted for another killing in New York, had been fleeing authorities when Aucoin pulled him over for speeding. Romeo shot Aucoin twice in the head as he wrote up a ticket, leaving him to die in his cruiser before fleeing back to the United States. Romeo was later captured, claiming Aucoin was a monster who’d been killing young men.
Constable Aucoin was the third Canadian police officer killed on duty in 1987 and was the first and only member of the New Brunswick Highway Patrol ever to die while serving.
Sources:
Joseph Emmanuel “Manni” Aucoin (1955-1987) – Find…
1991 CanLII 12407 (NB KB) | R. v. Romeo (1991) | CanLII
1991 CanLII 113 (SCC) | R. v. Romeo | CanLII
Anthony Phillip Romeo – Search – Newspapers.com™
Governor General Award — Emmanuel Joseph Aucoin Police Exemplary Service Medal, Awarded on August 28, 1987
SUSPECT IN KILLING ON FIRE I. IS HELD IN CANADIAN SLAYING (Published 1987)
N.B. cop killer Anthony Romeo granted escorted trip for meditation class
Facebook — MURDER – CST. MANNY AUCOIN
N.B. cop killer Anthony Romeo granted escorted trip for meditation class – New Brunswick
Facing killer a life-changing event | Blue Line
Man, 25, Found Slain In Home on Fire Island (Published 1985)
SUSPECT IS NAMED IN MURDER OF SON OF EX-AIDE TO CUOMO (Published 1987)
New Yorker ordered held in Canadian cop killing – UPI Archives
1985 L.I. conviction is overturned
Parole board denies release of American who killed New Brunswick cop in 1987 – New Brunswick
New Brunswick highway patrol officer’s killer denied full parole | CBC News
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350: Transatlantic Tragedy — The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth
Episode 350: Ashley Wadsworth’s story is one of hope and adventure turned into a nightmare. Originally from Vernon, British Columbia, Ashley travelled to the UK to be with her boyfriend, Jack Sepple, whom she had met online. However, what began as a romantic journey ended in tragedy when she was found dead in February 2022. Her murder shocked communities on both sides of the Atlantic and raised questions about the dangers of online relationships.
Join us as we unravel the details of this heartbreaking case, examining the events leading up to Ashley’s untimely death and the subsequent investigation that brought her killer to justice.
Sources:
Ashley Wadsworth Obituary – Vernon, BC
Language & Culture Revitalization – Okanagan Indian Band
Timeline – Okanagan Nation Alliance
Vernon BC | The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Power of Giving a ‘No Comment’ Interview During Police Questioning
Charge laid after B.C. woman killed in U.K.
Chelmsford: UPDATE Man charged with murder
Boyfriend killed Canadian teenager then filmed bloody confession | ITV News
‘She wanted to help him… He repaid by taking her life’ | ITV News
The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth | MacLeans
Vernon, B.C. teen’s U.K. killer sentenced to 23.5 years
‘She wanted to do so many things’: Vernon family grieving woman murdered in England
‘I was shocked’: Mother of Vernon teen murdered in England upon guilty plea
Documentary on B.C. teen’s murder airs on British TV
‘I thought England was the safest place in the world’ — DailyMail
Brit who killed girlfriend after she flew to UK was banned from meeting own mum
Mother of Vernon woman killed by boyfriend reacts to documentary about the death – Okanagan
The Murder Of Ashley Wadsworth — ITVX Documentary
Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol (Clare’s Law) Act | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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349: Christmas 2024: Mummers, Murder and Manifestations
Episode 349: In the 8th Christmas episode of the Dark Poutine podcast, we once again dive into the shadowy side of holiday traditions that often go unnoticed amidst the festive cheer. This episode will explore the dark origins of some Christmas customs, such as mummering, a practice steeped in mystery and community engagement, where masked individuals visit homes to entertain and sometimes frighten.
We will also recount the chilling tale of Isaac Mercer, who met a tragic end at the hands of mummers in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, in 1860.
Additionally, we’ll dig into the age-old custom of telling ghost stories during Christmas, which has deep roots in ancient traditions. This custom entertains and serves as a poignant reminder of mortality amidst the holiday festivities, adding an intriguing layer to our understanding of Christmas celebrations. We’ll share some chilly Canadian ghost stories along the way.
Sources:
Saturnalia | Celebration, Sacrifice, & Influence on Christmas | Britannica
The Wild Holiday That Turned Ancient Rome Upside Down
The Fright Before Christmas by Jeff Belanger
Archival Moments: An Act Outlawing Mummering
Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way: with drunken mayhem | CBC News
Ep079 The Isaac Mercer Mummer Murder Case. | MUN
Statutes of Newfoundland, 1861
The Christmas Tradition With A Dark Side | The Murder Of Isaac Mercer | Youtube
Any Mummers ’Lowed In?: Christmas Mummering Traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador by Dale Jarvis
The dark side of mummering: What you may not know about a beloved tradition | CBC News
The Isaac Mercer Mummer Murder Gate | Carved by the Sea
Victorian Christmas Ghost Storytelling Traditions in Montreal
Montreal’s Duggan House built on a foundation of the uncanny
The long journey for a body’s burial
10 famously spooky Canadian ghost tales
7 Spooky Stories from Across Canada
Augustus John Peers (1848-1901)
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348: The Gay Purge in Canada Part 2: The 1960’s -1990’s
Episode 348: This is part 2 of our coverage of the Gay Purge in Canada. Last week, we uncovered the origins of the Canadian government’s purge of gays and queer folk, a campaign that began in the early years of the Cold War.
This week, we take a chilling dive into one of the government’s most sinister methods—the Fruit Machine. This pseudoscientific device was meant to expose gay individuals through invasive tests, and how the RCMP and military’s attempted Purge of gays from civil service continued unabated all the way through to the 1990s.
Sources:
Peyton V. Lyon, The Loyalties of E. Herbert Norman: A Report Prepared for External Affairs and International Trade Canada, March 18, 1990 (Ottawa: 1990).
Bowen, Roger W, Innocence Is Not Enough: The Life and Death of Herbert Norman (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1986).
Kinsman, Gary, and Patrizia Gentile. The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation. University of British Columbia Press, 2010.
The Canadian Encyclopedia: “Canada’s Cold War Purge of 2SLGBTQ2+ from Public Service” The Canadian Encyclopedia
Village Legacy Project: “Ottawa LGBT History: The ‘Fruit Machine'” Village Legacy Project
https://definingmomentscanada.ca/all-for-9/historical-articles/lgbt-purge/#_edn3
https://ambcanada.ca/ambassadors/egerton-herbert-norman/
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347: The Gay Purge in Canada Part 1: The 1940’s-1960’s
Episode 347: In this episode, part one of two, thanks to Mathew’s intrepid and unflinching research, we’re peeling back the layers on one of the most harrowing chapters in Canadian history: the Gay Purge.
Officially, the campaign targeted LGBTQ+ individuals as part of a national security effort—citing their supposed susceptibility to blackmail by Soviet agents – But the real story is that these purges were driven more by institutional homophobia cloaked in Cold War fears and rhetoric than by legitimate security concerns. The blackmail excuse became a convenient cover for the government’s systemic discrimination, allowing a deeply entrenched homophobia to flourish unchecked.
This campaign stretched from the 1950s through to the 1990s, destroying lives, careers, and communities along the way. We’ll explore the origins of this agenda, how it escalated, and look at a few of the stories of individuals affected.
Sources:
Peyton V. Lyon, The Loyalties of E. Herbert Norman: A Report Prepared for External Affairs and International Trade Canada, March 18, 1990 (Ottawa: 1990).
Bowen, Roger W, Innocence Is Not Enough: The Life and Death of Herbert Norman (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1986).
Kinsman, Gary, and Patrizia Gentile. The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation. University of British Columbia Press, 2010.
The Canadian Encyclopedia: “Canada’s Cold War Purge of 2SLGBTQ2+ from Public Service” The Canadian Encyclopedia
Village Legacy Project: “Ottawa LGBT History: The ‘Fruit Machine'” Village Legacy Project
https://definingmomentscanada.ca/all-for-9/historical-articles/lgbt-purge/#_edn3
https://ambcanada.ca/ambassadors/egerton-herbert-norman/
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346: Complex Justice: The Tragic Story of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash
Episode 346: In this episode, we look into the life and mysterious murder of Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, a prominent Indigenous activist whose story continues to haunt the corridors of justice and activism alike. During the tumultuous 1970s, her journey took her from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, to the heart of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the United States, where she fought for Indigenous rights.
The mystery surrounding Annie Mae’s death is as compelling as her life. In December 1975, she disappeared and was later found deceased on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Initial reports misleadingly attributed her death to exposure, but a second autopsy revealed she had been executed with a bullet to the back of her head. This revelation raised questions about who could have orchestrated such a brutal act against someone so profoundly committed to her cause.
It took almost 30 years before the shocking truth was uncovered and the people responsible for Annie’s murder were brought to justice.
Sources:
Annie Mae Aquash (1945 – 1975)
A Warrior born… | Biography of Annie Mae
Crossing the Canada-U.S. border with a status card
9.16 The 1960s Counterculture – Canadian History: Post-Confederation
National Day of Mourning: A 1970 protest changed how Native Americans see Thanksgiving | CBC Radio
Wounded Knee Massacre | South Dakota, Occupation, History, & Legacy | Britannica
Historical Reading Room — Incident at Wounded Knee | U.S. Marshals Service
Native Americans seized Wounded Knee 50 years ago. Here’s what 1 reporter remembers
MuckRock | Annie Mae Aquash FBI Files
Annie Mae Aquash – From the US to Kurdistan: the indigenous struggle for freedom
2007 BCCA 345 (CanLII) | United States of America v. Graham | CanLII
2022 BCCA 47 (CanLII) | Graham v. Canada (Minister of Justice) | CanLII
Justice for Annie Mae Pictou Aquash Woman Warrior
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345: Particularly Cruel: The Murder of Baylee Wylie
Episode 345: In December 2015, the quiet city of Moncton, New Brunswick, was shaken to its core by a brutal crime that would leave an indelible mark on the community. Eighteen-year-old Baylee Wylie was found dead in a burned-out townhouse, the victim of a horrific murder that shocked residents and sparked a manhunt for those responsible.
Three young people who Baylee thought were his friends were ultimately charged for their roles in Wylie’s death: Marissa Shephard, 20 at the time, along with Devin Morningstar and Tyler Noel, both 18. The gruesome nature of the crime – Baylee had been tied to a chair, beaten, and stabbed approximately 200 times – sent shockwaves through Moncton.
The murder and subsequent trials captivated the region, with media coverage detailing the drug-fueled night that ended in tragedy. The community grappled with the senseless loss of a young life and the disturbing actions of the perpetrators.
In this episode, we’ll explore the events leading up to that fateful night, the impact on Baylee’s family and the wider Moncton community, and the following quest for justice. Join us as we examine one of the most notorious crimes in recent New Brunswick history.
Sources:
2017 NBQB 7 (CanLII) | R v. Morningstar | CanLII
2017 NBCA 39 (CanLII) | Morningstar v. R. | CanLII
2019 NBCA 76 (CanLII) | Shephard v. R. | CanLII
2021 NBQB 218 (CanLII) | R v Shephard | CanLII
2021 NBQB 181 (CanLII) | HMQ v. Marissa June Shephard | CanLII
Baylee Wylie Murder | News, Videos & Articles | GlobalNews
In loving memory of Baylee Wylie
Baylee Wylie – Search – Newspapers.com™
Obituary of Baylee Wylie | Fergusons Riverview Funeral Centre
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344: Buried Evidence: The Murder of Erin Chorney
Episode 344: In 2002, Brandon, Manitoba, was rocked by the disappearance of Erin Chorney, a feisty and energetic teenager with her whole life ahead of her. What began as a simple outing—Erin telling her mother she’d be back in an hour—turned into a parent’s worst nightmare when she never returned home. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the community of Brandon rallied around the Chorney family, desperately searching for answers.
The truth behind Erin’s disappearance would only come to light through one of Canada’s most contentious investigative techniques. You guessed it — Mister Big. The case led investigators down a dark path, culminating in a shocking confession and a grim discovery that would forever change the lives of those involved.
Join us as we explore the details of this heart-wrenching case, examining the investigation that followed, the controversial methods employed by law enforcement, and the lasting impact on a community forever changed by tragedy.
Sources:
Brandon | City, Prairie, Wheat Capital | Britannica
Canadian Encyclopedia | Brandon
Obituary for Erin Kristen Chorney
CHORNEY DARCY JAMES – Obituaries – Brandon Sun Passages
Fooled Into Giving A Full Confession | Dark Waters Of Crime | Real Crime
Undercover police sting ends with arrest of shocked murder suspect
Jun 18, 2005, page 4 – Nanaimo Daily News at Newspapers.com
Oct 08, 2006, page 22 – News-Press at Newspapers.com
Girlfriend-killer loses appeal
Jun 2014: Killer can’t visit dying relative
Brandon man convicted of murdering Erin Chorney applying for parole under faint-hope clause
Apr 2021: Murder ‘devastated’ Chorney family
To the Grave: Inside a Spectacular RCMP Sting by Mike McIntyre
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