Police are confirming that as many as three were injured by gunfire in an incident at Bay and Queen Sts. on pavement mobbed with Raptors celebrants. An announcement from the stage while the Prime Minister was present asked fans to stay calm, but not to leave. A late Tweet from Police Operations says that three are injured, but not too seriously, and that two persons are in custody. Weapons have also been seized. On-air commentators for the CBC offered praise for police who acted to quell potential panic.

POTENTIALLY DEADLY PANIC

The huge turnout for the parade and rally slowed the event. Scott Lightfoot of CTV was saying that player introductions were taking place at 3.45 p.m., some three hours later than expected. It seems probable that the rally will last until at least 5 p.m. and perhaps longer, after which crowds will be finding their way home. Downtown streets and mass transit routes are likely to be crowded well into the evening. Below is video posted by Star City Hall reporter Jennifer Pagliaro showing the potential deadly panic. It is quite scary.

I’m on the roof of city hall and something is happening. People are running including what looks to be cops and security pic.twitter.com/FEbhw88OqI

— Jennifer Pagliaro (@jpags) June 17, 2019

Close to capacity

Viewing areas at City Hall and all along the route are close to capacity. At 10.30 Monday police are appealing for fans not to block the parade route. “Stay off the road and allow the players and the floats to pass. All viewing areas close to capacity. Be patient and safe,” they tweeted. Police Operations

The Toronto Raptors Championship Parade will begin at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, June 17 at the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place, and will finish at Nathan Phillips Square, where a rally will cap off the festivities — CBC

Skating rink is boarded over to accommodate crowd

Monday will see Toronto delight in Raptors victory ecstasy with a parade for the NBA champions snaking its way from Exhibition Place to City Hall for a huge noon-hour rally. As many as 2,000,000 people are expected to line the route and crowd Nathan Phillips Square for the event. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Princes’ Gates and will head east on Lakeshore Boulevard before turning north onto York Street and University Avenue and finally heading east on Queen Street to Nathan Phillips Square for the 12:30 p.m. rally. Sunday saw the rare spectacle of workmen covering the City Hall Skating Rink in order to make room for the crowds.

As many as 2 million expected

Four men have been injured, one seriously, after jet skis collided with rocks at Bluffers Park Marina. Toronto police and the Marine Unit were called to the area just before 8 p.m. on Sunday night. Two boaters were taken to hospital in serious condition to a trauma centre, while a third man was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. A fourth is being assessed by paramedics on scene — CityNews.

HEADS UP #TORONTO
Canadian Forces Snowbirds are planned to flyover Toronto Raptors victory celebration at Nathan Phillips Square, Monday 12:30 PM. Parade starts at Exhibition Place at 10 AM. #WeTheNorth#NBA Champions 🏀🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/7VVZczyL3D

— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) June 16, 2019

Hey folks, continue to keep your eyes to the skies today during the #RaptorParade. Your updated timing is that the #CFSnowbirds flyby will occur at the end of the National Anthem. #Toronto #Raptors #WeTheNorth #RCAF pic.twitter.com/duEkcwW8Vw

— Royal Canadian Air Force (@RCAF_ARC) June 17, 2019

Party’s over

Police have released video captures of eight out-of-control fans who stomped on and otherwise damaged a police scout car during after-game celebrations Thursday. Investigators urge those responsible to consult a lawyer then contact the police. Release, larger pictures

This is the two-hour-plus news conference featuring Nick Nurse and players Marc Gasol, point guard Fred VanVleet and forward Danny Green.

Don Valley East MPP and former cabinet minister Michael Coteau has officially declared his intention to seek the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. His candidacy was to be announced on social media Sunday. Mr. Coteau is a graduate of Leaside High School. Global News

The Supreme Court has responded to the awful truth about an end to solitary confinement in Canadian Prisons. Namely, that it will lead to the death of prisoners who are determined to hurt or kill either themselves or others. Prisoner isolation was declared unconstitutional 18 months ago by the Ontario Court of Appeal in a decision that would have become effective Monday. The high court Sunday set aside that deadline at the urging of the federal government to permit a full hearing on the issue. Recent years have seen ferocious lobbying by many groups as well as an emotional campaign by the Toronto Star to end so-called administrative isolation. In its request to set aside the deadline, the government warned that banning solitary confinement without a practical alternative in place would create a dangerous situation in prisons. Indeed, it isn’t difficult to imagine wholesale bloodshed caused by persons who are legally sane but dangerously violent. Colin Perkel, Canadian Press.

Taxpayers in Burlington lost more than $500,000 in May when a City employee fell for an email asking the municipality to henceforth send all payments for one of its big suppliers to a new bank. Yep. No one picked up the phone to the payee and asked: “Is this email really from you?” It’s happened before and seems destined to reoccur until employees become wary enough about email requests to confirm their validity. The $500,000 was lost in a single transaction, reports say, suggesting a high level of credibility on the part of the hapless employee.