Daily News Curation - 2025-12-21

Curated 19 items from disability, accessibility, and social policy sources.

1. Police officers shouldn’t be leading mental health calls, Toronto police chief says

Man in police gear standing behind podium<p>For years, police have been on the front lines of mental health crisis calls in Toronto, but the city’s police chief believes it’s now time to rethink that approach.</p> 📍 Source Score: 22.50

2. Why a Nova Scotia assault case before Canada’s top court could set precedent for Indigenous sentencing options

A woman wearing sunglasses and a man in a hooded jacket pose for a selfie outside. <p>The Mi’kmaw woman at the centre of an aggravated assault case now before the Supreme Court of Canada spoke about what she went through for the first time ever in an interview with CBC News. She says it’s up to courts to find “balance” between sentencing Indigenous offenders and protecting Indigenous women who are victims.</p> 📍 Source Score: 15.50

3. More Than 1,500 Manitoba Babies Received New Respiratory Virus Protection Since Program Expansion

📍 Source Score: 13.00

4. 1 year ago, Alberta’s premier sought to lock down a ‘leaky’ border. Here’s what’s happened since

A collage of various border images is pictured.<p>Last December, Alberta rolled out its $29-million provincial border strategy in response to tariff threats from Donald Trump. But nearly one year later, Premier Danielle Smith says her government has learned the Coutts border crossing isn’t a hub of illicit activity — and that could lead to a focus on other areas.</p> 📍 Source Score: 14.60

5. ‘The Nazis were right’: What the leaders of Canada’s biggest ‘nationalist’ group really want

A group of masked men hang a banner on an overpass.<p>In official posts, Second Sons Canada calls itself a “men’s nationalist club” and promotes a nostalgic vision of Canada. But on personal podcasts and livestreams, its leaders consistently espouse antisemitism, violent rhetoric, praise Nazi Germany and use racist slurs.</p> 📍 Source Score: 9.50

6. Manitoba Government Announces Kindergarten to Grade 12 Anti-Islamophobia Action Plan

📍 Source Score: 7.50

7. Third Session Adjourns With Important Legislation to Keep Communities Safe, More Inclusive

📍 Source Score: 5.60

8. Manitobans Invited to Participate in Budget 2026 Survey, Consultations

📍 Source Score: 6.50

9. Vancouver Canucks Trade Grades: Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild is heartbreaking, even if the return is solid

The long-rumoured deal finally became a reality. 📍 Source Score: 4.00

10. Hastings Racecourse announces the immediate stopping of live horse racing

“This is strictly a business decision.” 📍 Source Score: 4.00

11. Measles Update #51

📍 Source Score: 4.50

12. Guided By Robots dives deep to benefit autism charity

“It gets pretty exciting by the end of the night, by the time people have had a few beverages.” 📍 Source Score: 3.50

13. The Arts Club finds the enduring appeal of Little Women

The timeless classic hits the Granville Island Stage. 📍 Source Score: 4.50

14. Man faces attempted murder charge, 24-hour standoff with police ends after officer shot in Welland, Ont.

A man and police officer talk on street<p>Following a 24-hour standoff that held Welland, Ont., on edge, a man barricaded in a former church was taken into custody Saturday and faces charges including attempted murder after a Niagara regional police officer was shot. According to police, it all began with a dispute over a fence that officials say contravenes local bylaws.</p> 📍 Source Score: 4.50

15. Quebec judge grants bail to man jailed over 30 years ago for 4 murders

A man with a grey beard leans on his cane as he stands in a door frame.<p>A man who has spent 33 years behind bars for four murders was granted bail after concerns were raised earlier this year about the fairness of his initial trial. </p> 📍 Source Score: 4.50

16. Sinéad X Sanders on traumatic brain injuries, cognitive dissonance, and a long-awaited killer debut

Vancouver finest players rally around a singer with an extraordinary story. 📍 Source Score: 2.00

17. 30 can’t-miss Vancouver events for December 2025

Your guide to what’s on in Vancouver in December. 📍 Source Score: 1.50

18. Sask. man has one of the largest known collections of hockey books. It all started with a hockey draft

<img src=’https://i.cbc.ca/ais/26ddd624-1b2e-4573-82b3-402760734b8d,1766260849565/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C350%2C6720%2C3780%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29’ alt=’A smiling man with silver and black hair, moustache and beard, and wearing a black t-shirt, stands in front of full bookcases.’ width=’620’ height=’349’ title=’Regina’s James Benesh with part of his hockey book collection.’/><p>James Benesh of Regina has about 1,200 hockey books. The Society for International Hockey Research is aware of only two other private collections that are larger.</p> 📍 Source Score: 1.00

19. High winds knock out power for tens of thousands in Nova Scotia

A Nova Scotia Power truck is parked next to a downed tree. An employee can be seen on a crane attempting to address a power outage.<p>Tens of thousands of Nova Scotia Power customers spent much of Saturday without power after high winds and rain hit the province overnight.</p> 📍 Source Score: 1.50