Dark Poutine

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 Minasssian Trial | PDF

Alek Minassian Interview | PDF

Diverting Hate – Bi-Annual Report September 2023 | PDF

Victim Impact Statements | PDF | Justice criminelle | Crime et violence

The Incel Rebellion | PDF

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

How this Toronto officer ‘courageously’ got the van attack suspect in custody without firing a shot | CBC News

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 with no chance of parole for 25 years | 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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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:

Coal Mining Fatalities

The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 1: Coal

World Coal Consumption: Past, Present, and Future

Parks Canada – Beginnings of Coal Mining National Historic Event

Coal in Canada

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

Mining Disasters

Nova Scotia’s Historic Underground Coal Mine Workings Information

Nova Scotia Archives | Mining Disasters

Nova Scotia Archives | Men in the Mines

Coal and Grit

Miners Memorial Day: Davis Day

Stellarton, NS | Canadian Encyclopedia

Westray | NFB Film

Westray Mine | Wikipedia

Westray Disaster | Canadian Encyclopedia

The Day the Westray Mine Blew

Westray Coal Mine Disaster | New Scotland

Nova Scotia Archives | The Westray Story | Report of the Westray Mine Public Inquiry
Justice K. Peter Richard, Commissioner

Westray.Mine.Public.Inquiry

Death by Consensus: The Westray Story

The Westray Mine Disaster and its Aftermath: The Politics of Causation

1993 CanLII 3278 (NS CA) | Nova Scotia (Commissioner of Inquiries, Westray Mine) v. Phillips | CanLII

1995 CanLII 86 (SCC) | Phillips v. Nova Scotia (Commission of Inquiry into the Westray Mine Tragedy) | CanLII

Westray Verdict

The Westray Disaster

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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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…

Anthony Philip Romeo, Petitioner, Appellant, v. James B. Roache, Respondent, Appellee, 820 F.2d 540 (1st Cir. 1987)

Cst. Emmanuel Joseph Aucoin

1991 CanLII 12407 (NB KB) | R. v. Romeo (1991) | CanLII

1991 CanLII 113 (SCC) | R. v. Romeo | CanLII

R. v. Romeo – SCC Cases

HE’S CHARGED IN ’85 GUN SLAY

Anthony Phillip Romeo – Search – Newspapers.com™

Governor General Award — Emmanuel Joseph Aucoin Police Exemplary Service Medal, Awarded on August 28, 1987

New Brunswick Highway Patrol

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

PEOPLE v. ROMEO (2008)

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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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

City of Vernon

The Implications of ‘No Comment’ in A Police Interview and the Importance of Legal Advice – Makwanas | Criminal Legal Aid Solicitors

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

Clare’s Law

Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol (Clare’s Law) Act | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

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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

Mummers, Murder and Mayhem

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

Rousing ghost of Mount Royal

The Coffin Surfing Ghost

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

Mysteries in Canadian History

7 Spooky Stories from Across Canada

Augustus John Peers (1848-1901)

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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://www.trentarthur.ca/news/i-was-a-good-soldier-understanding-the-fruit-machine-2018-dir-sarah-fodey

https://ambcanada.ca/ambassadors/egerton-herbert-norman/

Arthur Newspaper

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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://www.trentarthur.ca/news/i-was-a-good-soldier-understanding-the-fruit-machine-2018-dir-sarah-fodey

https://ambcanada.ca/ambassadors/egerton-herbert-norman/

Arthur Newspaper

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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)

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park

A Warrior born… | Biography of Annie Mae

Crossing the Canada-U.S. border with a status card

CBP Customer Service

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

National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls – Montreal. Day 2, Community Public Hearing 2, March 13, 2018. Live Feed | By National Inquiry MMIWG / Enquête nationale FFADA | Facebook

American Indian Movement

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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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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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

History of Brandon, MB

HeritageBrandon.ca

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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