A popular social media trend of racing through the hallways of Church of Scientology locations has come to Vancouver, with one teenager arrested though later released.

Known as “speed running,” participants have entered the church’s Hollywood, Calif., locations and raced through hallways while attempting to avoid security guards and see how far they can get before being escorted out.

In Vancouver, police attended the city’s Church of Scientology location on Saturday at about 3 p.m. after being made aware of a group of about 250 to 300 people gathering.

“We received information that some of them were trying to get in, so we deployed police officers that were at other protests in the area,” said Sgt. Adam Donaldson with the Vancouver police. “At the rear there was some young people that managed to break a gate … but our members were able to prevent them from entering.”

Police used tactics to move the crown away from the church, he said, but at about 5 p.m. the group returned.

A 16-year-old male was arrested for a breach of the peace. He was later released into the custody of his parents and no charges were laid. Donaldson said the teen was arrested for pushing a police officer.

Dominic Tomkowicz, who came to the location to see if he could film what was taking place, said it was a “huge” turn out of people.

“This is just another TikTok and social media trend that will eventually fade out in time,” Tomkowicz said, adding he had no plans to go in the building, filming outside only. “Nobody gets harmed, I don’t see any harm in that. As long as … they don’t come back again and they follow the law, that’s perfectly fine.”

However, Donaldson told Global News there are criminal aspects, and potential charges, depending the actions people are taking to join the trend.

“If you are attempting to gain entry to a building, that is break and enter. If you are damaging property, that is mischief,” he said. “I saw the social media videos. I saw a lot of young people in the crowd masked up, and if you are making choices like that, you could potentially catch a criminal charge and it would affect the rest of your life.”

The term ‘speed running’ is part of video game culture and refers to playing through a game as quickly as possible during a “speedrun” often to avoid glitches and to minimize completion time.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, officials with the Church of Scientology have condemned the viral trend, accusing those who take part in it of “hate crimes.”

Spokesperson David Bloomberg said in a statement to Global News on Sunday the incident in Vancouver was a “coordinated act.”

“This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protest,” Bloomberg said. “It was a coordinated act involving attempts to breach a religious facility and disrupt its operations.

“Turning them (church facilities) into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment and disruption of religious spaces.”

—with files from Global News’ Darya Zargar

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Hamilton police say they have charged a man with 19 counts after he allegedly shot himself during a botched home invasion.

Police say they responded to reports of a shooting near the city’s centre on Saturday night and found a man with serious gunshot injuries.

At the scene, police say they found a trail of blood that led to a discarded firearm, which investigators believe was the same one used in the shooting.

Police say they determined the injured man had actually shot himself during an attempted home invasion.

The 38-year-old accused from Hamilton faces charges of breaking and entering, criminal harassment and numerous firearm offences.

Police say the man was treated at a local medical centre and is currently in custody.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Mounties in Saskatchewan say several people, including children, were assessed after a man unleashed bear spray inside a church Sunday morning.

RCMP say the disturbance at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in North Battleford, located in west-central Saskatchewan, began before 11 a.m.

Police say officers found churchgoers holding the suspect in the hallway before his arrest.

The church was later evacuated and police say about 25 people of all ages received treatment.

Bear spray can cause an intense burning sensation in the eyes and can make it difficult to breathe.

Police say an investigation has found that the suspect was not motivated by hate.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Toronto police say they have charged a 67-year-old man with second-degree murder after a fatal daylight shooting in the north end of the city.

Police identified the shooting victim as Daniel Stopnicki, a 47-year-old from Toronto.

They say Stopnicki was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene after life-saving measures were attempted.

Police say the shooting happened just after noon on Thursday in the area of Marlee Avenue and Glengrove Avenue West.

Shortly after the shooting, police said on social media that officers had arrested a suspect at the scene.

Police say Stopnicki’s death is Toronto’s seventh homicide of the year.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

CLEVELAND – The Toronto Raptors will be without forward Brandon Ingram for Game 7 of their NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The all-star forward was officially ruled out about 90 minutes before tipoff at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.

Ingram had been seen in a walking boot at the team’s shootaround as he attempts to deal with inflammation in his right heel.

He aggravated a previous heel injury and left midway through the second quarter of Toronto’s 125-120 road loss in Game 5 on Wednesday.

The swelling did not improve enough for him to play in the Raptors’ 112-110 overtime win at home in Game 6 on Friday, and he was eventually ruled out of Game 7 after entering Sunday listed as questionable.

Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points in the regular season, but had not been as effective a scorer in the playoffs with an average of 12 points.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

At 6 a.m. Saturday morning, families gathered at the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport for Autism Aviation Day. Air Canada chooses six to eight airports each year to host the event, which teaches children on the spectrum the ins and outs of traveling through the airport. This year marks the first time Air Canada has partnered with Autism Services of Saskatoon to host the program.

“This is a very valuable connection because it kind of gives all of these families the chance to see how their kids operate through an airport and in doing so, the airports have that chance to make those adaptations,” says Alex Scott, director of family programming for Autism Services of Saskatoon.

Going to the airport can be stressful on its own, and it can be overwhelming for those on the spectrum.

“Everyone goes through their own journey when you have a kid on the spectrum, you can’t really lump autism together,” Scott says. “Everyone has their separate sensitivities to their environment, there are different issues there are different skill sets.”

During the morning, participants got to complete check-in procedures and move through security to help build their confidence in the airport environment. They then boarded the plane to take a short ride above Saskatoon to see what it actually feels like to be up in the air.

Watch the video above for kids’ reactions after completing their first flight. 

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

RCMP are urging safety after a recent increase in rescue operations in Banff National Park, including the death of a person visiting from the United States.

On May 1 at about 6:40 p.m., police say they received a call saying someone had jumped into the rapids about 40 feet below Johnston Canyon and “never resurfaced.”

A search was launched for the man who was visiting from Pennsylvania, with RCMP leading the investigation and Parks Canada also involved.

On Saturday, both the upper and lower pools at the Lower Falls were searched by Parks Canada visitor safety specialists, law enforcement and partner agencies, but the man was not located.

“Due to dangerous water conditions, all available all available search options have been exhausted at this time, and recovery operations have been suspended,” a spokesperson for Parks Canada said in an email. “Conditions will continue to be monitored should it become safe to reassess.”

The agency went on to say it wouldn’t provide further information on the incident at this time out of respect for the man and his family.

Friday’s incident is the most recent in a string of rescue operations in the national park in the past month.

On April 9, a solo hiker climbed the Big Beehive and got lost while trying to descend the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. The hiker called 911 after he sank thigh-deep into unsupportive, isothermal snow, according to Banff National Park’s Facebook page. A sling rescue was used to help the man, who was returned to the lakeshore uninjured.

Less than a week later on April 14, two hikers attempted to make the same trek to the Big Beehive and down the Plain of Six Glaciers. After climbing over a small cliff band and reaching a larger cliff, they had to call 911. Another sling rescue was conducted and both hikers were returned to the lakeshore without injuries.

Eight days later on April 22, a visitor planning a short walk in the backcountry had to be rescued after becoming disoriented and suffering from exposure. Banff National Park says they lost their footwear after sinking into deep snow. Visitor safety specialists responded by snowmobile and travelled to the visitor’s last known location before finding them by following their tracks. They transferred them to Banff EMS after rewarming.

Given the rescues, the national park on Thursday issued a notice reminding people that winter conditions and avalanche hazards remain present in the mountain national parks even as warmer temperatures are being seen in the valley.

“Many popular trails remain snow-covered and icy,” the Facebook post says. “Freeze-thaw cycles and a very deep snowpack have created challenging and unpredictable conditions, particularly near tree lines and in alpine areas.”

Alberta RCMP Cpl. Mathew Howell said the recent incidents including Friday’s are a reminder of the need to stick to predetermined trails and avoid jumping into waters amid the spring melt.

“Obviously, no jumping into waters, even if a pool sometimes looks very calm – you don’t know what’s going on underneath,” Howell said. “The first foot or two could be fine and then your legs go in and you get swept away.”

He added if a trail is currently blocked off, visitors should not try to use it. He said that could lead to other trails also being blocked due to people ignoring safety instructions.

—with files from Global News’ Drew Stremick

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Mats Sundin senior executive adviser, hockey operations and John Chayka general manager, according to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs.

Sundin, the franchise’s former captain and all-time points leader, returns after 13 seasons with the team.

Chayka, 36, was previously the NHL’s youngest GM with the Arizona Coyotes and is known for an analytics-driven approach.

Both arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967.

A news conference is expected Monday.

—with a file from Global News’Sean Previl

© 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have landed on a new brain trust.

The Original Six franchise looked both forward and back Sunday, naming ex-captain Mats Sundin as its senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager.

The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The team says Sundin will provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support.

“This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a release. “My love for the Maple Leafs and the City of Toronto is an important part of who I am and who I will always be.

“I look forward to working closely with John as we both recognize the incredible opportunity and responsibility to win here in Toronto.”

Toronto fired GM Brad Treliving in March, near the end of the disastrous campaign for the Maple Leafs, who entered the season among the Stanley Cup favourites back in September.

The club also did not replace president Brendan Shanahan after he was let go in May 2025.

Sundin and Chayka arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967.

A news conference is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

The Maple Leafs’ all-time leader in points and game-winning goals, Sundin had a complicated Toronto exit in 2008 before a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks, but remains a fan favourite for his 13 seasons in blue and white.

The 55-year-old Swede, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and returned home to start a family after retiring, has never held a formal management position in the game.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and chief executive officer Keith Pelley said the organization was focused on a “data-centric” approach for the hockey operations department at a press conference following Treliving’s dismissal.

“They have to really understand data and the importance of data and where data is moving,” Pelley said at the time.

That’s where Chayka likely comes in.

The 36-year-old became the NHL’s youngest GM when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes a decade ago. His time in the desert was marked by an analytics-heavy push and bold trades.

“I’m honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a release. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win.

“I’m focused on building a team that is competitive, driven and relentless — one that is in the best position to win for our fans and for the City of Toronto.”

Chayka abruptly resigned in July 2020 on the eve of the league’s pandemic restart and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for one year in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the league and game” after pursuing job opportunities with other teams while still employed by the Coyotes.

Arizona was also docked first- and second-round picks for holding unauthorized workouts with draft prospects under his watch, in breach of the league’s scouting combine policy.

Chayka hadn’t worked in the NHL since.

The first order of business for the new brain trust will be determining the future of head coach Craig Berube.

The Stanley Cup winner with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 helped Toronto make the second round of the 2025 playoffs, but appeared to run out of ideas as this season spiralled for a group that allowed the league’s second-most goals and finished last in shots against.

Toronto will also have to decide on a path forward — was 2025-26 a one-off or representative of a championship window that’s now closed? — for the roster’s core with captain Auston Matthews signed for two more years before potentially hitting unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2028.

The Maple Leafs don’t have a ton of high-end talent in the pipeline after taking numerous swings at past trade deadlines, and the organization will be watching the NHL draft lottery closely after finishing with the league’s fifth-worst record.

Should one of the 11 non-playoff teams behind Toronto beat the odds and win the lottery, the Maple Leafs would fall out of the top-5 and surrender their pick to the Boston Bruins as part of the deal for defenceman Brandon Carlo last spring.

Sundin wrapped up his 2024 book “Home and Away,” talking about his connection to the city.

“For a guy who wore (No. 13) on his back his entire career, I was — and am — incredibly fortunate,” he wrote. “I collected so many memories along the way, a list too long of people who guided and supported me, of teammates I was honoured to sit next to on the bench. It was a wonderful ride. Fifteen years later (after parting ways with the Maple Leafs), I have my beautiful family and two places to call home.

“One here in Sweden, and one across the ocean in Toronto.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2026.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

A man has been arrested and charged after Winnipeg police say he assaulted and threatened three health-care workers at a city hospital.

The 59-year-old was being treated between April 30 and May 1 at Grace Hospital  in the St. James-Assiniboia area and was behaving in what police describe as an “aggressive manner.” They said he was also making sexually inappropriate comments to surrounding staff. As a result, he was placed in restraints by hospital security.

During his treatment, police say, the man sexually assaulted two workers, ripping one woman’s garment as he tried to bite her, and verbally threatened a third worker.

Police were contacted by the hospital, with officers taking the man into custody at about 2 a.m. on Friday.

He now faces two counts of sexual assault, an assault charge, and a charge for uttering threats to kill or cause harm.

He was released on an undertaking.

Following the incident, the Manitoba Nurses Union said in a statement a provincially-mandated task force is needed to establish and enforce step-by-step procedures for addressing violence in health care.

“When one patient is allowed to threaten and intimidate unchecked, the impact spreads,” said union president Darlene Jackson in a statement. “It poisons the work environment, compromises safety, and puts every nurse, every staff member, and every patient at risk.”

Jackson went on to say the task force is needed “immediately” and should report directly to the government, but added the employer of health-care workers needs to be held accountable as well.

“Right now, the system is failing not just patients but the people who it employs,” she said.

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in a statement the government was deeply concerned by the assault.

“This type of harm is unacceptable and has no place anywhere,” Asagwara said. “I am reaching out to the health care workers. No one should face violence while they are caring for others, and we recognize how upsetting incidents like this are for staff across the system.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.