CBC News: The National | B.C. wildfire battle intensifies

Tonight, explosive and extremely dangerous, the brutal weather fueling out -of -control fires in B .C.Barely making it out, unsure what's left behind as flames engulf parts of southern B .C.And we go inside the battle against the blaze in Washington state.

It was a firestorm coming through.

Plus, Prime Minister Mark Carney's message for the head of FIFA.

This is not how you run any business, let alone something that is a global responsibility like football.

As the criticism grows, the Canadian who could replace him.And why scientists are sitting up after part of a SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon.

Looking to the future when there are, you know, moon bases could have very bad consequences.The concerns about lunar litter.

From CBC News, this is The National with Paul Hunter.

Thank you for joining us.Adrian is away.Firefighters in Western Canada and the United States are bracing for an intensifying battle.Hotter and drier conditions are on the way, and officials are calling the situation explosive.Among the fires we're watching closely is B .C.'s largest, burning west of Kamloops, plus another devastating blaze in the Okanagan.

And in nearby Washington state, three wildfires have burned down homes and livelihoods.Tonight, we're getting a clearer picture of what it's like on the ground in both those places, including the destruction that has transformed communities.Jessica Chung starts off our wildfire coverage tonight in B .C.where more evacuees are learning what's become of their homes.

Racing to escape as flames close in in B .

C.'s Okanagan.

What some Bradley Creek fire evacuees saw when they were forced to flee at a moment's notice.

They had five minutes to leave.My little girl, my youngest daughter, six years old, Starley, she couldn't even get her shoes on.That's how fast they had to grab their stuff.and the fire was on their heels.

Among the 8 ,000 across BC forced to evacuate is Devin McMillan's family.They own a ranch near Vernon and had no choice but to let their 13 horses loose.

It's the worst nightmare.You never want to turn your animals loose and just pray that they make it, and they had to do that.

Her horses survived, but McMillan lost her home, and she's not the only one.

I can't even believe what I'm seeing.This is the first time I've seen it.

Many are just now seeing the scale of destruction left by the fire, which officials say has already destroyed roughly 230 properties.

It's devastating.It's hard to explain.The impact is severe.I can't imagine all the devastation and just the hurt.

I didn't recognize my own community.It looked like a war zone.It was really heartbreaking because there were some structures there that I've seen all my life.

The Bradley Creek wildfire is one of over a hundred fires burning across BC.The Pear Lake fire, the province's largest, has damaged about 120 properties and officials say that number is expected to climb.

It's difficult because, you know, people have been sitting and wondering, people calling to ask, you know, did my home survive the fire or do I have anything to go home to?

But reinforcements are coming.Firefighters from Mexico arrived in Kamloops to join the fight and more are arriving Thursday.But as hot and dry weather persists.officials expect fire activity to increase in the coming days.

And Jessica, the smoke from the fires has spread, prompting air quality warnings.

Yeah, so Metro Vancouver has issued a warning in the region that includes areas in the lower mainland, plus the Fraser Valley and here in Vancouver.And you can see the smoke.I know it doesn't seem like it where we are right now, but if you look behind me, usually you can see the North Shore mountains between those buildings.And right now, all you can see is a wall of smoke.So officials are saying that there is a health risk here and they are urging people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities at this time.

All right.Thanks, Jessica.That's Jessica Chung in Vancouver.And south of the border in Washington state, evacuees are combing through what's left of their homes as wildfires rage.Julia Wong is in Spokane with how residents are coping there and how firefighters are bracing for worsening conditions.

I got my wedding album and I got my family album.

When wildfires erupted last weekend in Spokane, WA, Anita Stokes grabbed whatever she could.

My cross, I thought I had left it behind.It's very comforting.I thought I lost it.

Emotions are raw.Her home, one of hundreds destroyed by the flames.

That was awful, awful.I can't even describe that.The you know we were screaming.I mean, it was just.I mean, I expected it, but I didn't, you know, so it was devastating.Stokes now unsure what comes next.

Now I feel really insecure because we're homeless, you know, and we never thought we'd be in this position.

Three wildfires now burning more thansquare kilometers, a reminder of how unforgiving the flames can be.Some houses completely leveled while others left untouched.This used to be a camper, but now it's just a pile of rubble.Over here, this was a sink.You can tell it's filled with ash right now.

There's a cheese grater.Over here, this used to be an oven.Still inside, a couple of cast iron pans.It's all hands on deck.The need so high, Some fire departments are calling up new recruits and officials unsure when the fires will be under control.

We are still in an active firefight here, still have fire interior, still have heat.So we're not going to sit down and take a break.We're going to continue full force with what we're doing.

And those on the front lines say they've never seen anything like these wildfires before.

The initial stages of this was just industry combat level firefighting.I mean, it was a firestorm coming through.

And it's more than just a job for that fire chief.He himself is also an evacuee.And while he says that his house is still standing, he says there are several houses on his street that have burned down.

And Julia, so what's the message from officials tonight?

So they're saying that conditions are good right now for attacking these fires, but there's worry about the forecast that we're going to see later this week.It's going to get hotter and windier, and there is concern that's going to make the firefight more challenging.

Okay, thank you, Julia.That's Julia Wong in Spokane, Washington.And we have some late breaking news tonight.Darius Madavi is tracking an out -of -control wildfire that's developing tonight inside Metro Vancouver near a village called Anmore, just north of Port Moody.Darius, take us through what's happening.

Well, we just heard that two homes had to be tactically evacuated in theMetro Vancouver area as a result of the fire, and Metro Vancouver is warning residents that more people may need to leave in the hours ahead.Now, this is a very active situation, so I'm going to show you where exactly this is happening.First, take a look at this aerial image from the BC Wildfire Service showing where that smoke was.This fire was just reported earlier this afternoon, listed at less than half a hectare in size, and it has grown throughout the evening.going to be continuing to keep a close eye on it as one of just over 100 fires burning here in BC, but this one particularly notable because it's burning within the boundaries of Metro Vancouver.

So again, still a small fire, but one that we need to be keeping a close eye on.Throughout the evening, we've seen helicopters coming through and bucketing on top of the fire.This is imagery from Flight Radar, a website that lets you see where different aerial vehicles have been moving, and you can see that helicopter moving through.Since then, we've heard that there are at least three helicopters bucketing the fire, actioning it, trying to tone down, tamp down on that wildfire activity.But again, this is an active situation for people in and highly visible for folks across Metro Vancouver.Paul?

Alright, thank you Darius.That's CBC's Darius Madhavi in Vancouver.We'll be watching that.Canada's Trade Minister is back in Washington for talks staring down a two -week deadline until a punishing new round of US tariffs could take effect.On social media, Dominic Leblanc said...He met with senators from North Dakota and Tennessee, two states impacted by the trade war, quote, to promote a stable and mutually beneficial trading relationship that supports workers and businesses on both sides of the border.

The White House is threatening 50 percent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods to the U .S., from alcohol and cement to hockey sticks.Mark Carney says he's lost confidence in FIFA's president, the prime minister, Joe Biden.growing criticism of Gianni Infantino over a plan to bring private investment into the World Cup.Evan Dyer breaks down the controversy and Carney's blunt message.

Certainly I don't have confidence in Mr. Infantino after this point, given what transpired and given the nature of what transpired.

Mark Carney's condemnation of FIFA head Gianni Infantino was frank, but he's not the only one to lose trust in World Soccer's top official.

This is your peace prize.

Infantino has made waves from the start for his relationship with Donald Trump, giving the president FIFA's inaugural peace prize.getting involved in Trump's Board of Peace.And fans worldwide were outraged when FIFA allowed a US player to compete despite a red card ban.For many, the final straw came last week, when Infantino announced he'd been working on a plan to sell off a 20 % stake in the World Cup's commercial business.The potential buyer, a firm run by Jared Kushner's brother.

The idea that proper governance is not to disclose to your closest advisers, your chief operating officer, your fellow board members, something of consequence that you're even considering, let alone proposing.That's fatal.

I was in disbelief that this single person would be able to do some of the things that he was supposedly doing behind everyone's back.

Infantino spent the day in emergency meetings in Morocco.FIFA's board says it still backs him, but Canada Soccer and CONCACAF, North America's soccer federation, Both questioned his leadership, as has the all -important European Federation, UEFA.If Infantino falls, one of the frontrunners to replace him is Canadian Victor Montaliani.

A very good job in his role at CONCACAF but this again I'll defer to governance.

Mark Carney is the only leader of a 2026 World Cup host nation to speak out against Infantino.It's still not clear if President Trump will weigh in to defend the man who worked so hard to win his favor.Evan Dyer, CBC News, Ottawa.

A new federal report is sounding the alarm about widespread anti -semitism on Canadian campuses.Among 900 Jewish students surveyed, about 96 % say they've experienced or witnessed at least one anti -semitic incident in the past year.70 % said their school does not take the issue seriously.And 63 % of those who reported incidents say they were dissatisfied with the response.

The central finding here is very clear.Anti -Semitism on Canadian campuses is neither isolated nor episodic.

The report is the first of two commissioned by the federal government.Jewish advocacy groups are calling for concrete action to protect Canadian students.A deadly night in Kiev as Russia unleashed a barrage of attacks on the Ukrainian capital.And as Nala Ayed shows us, Ukraine's president blames the U .S.for not sending more help.

In a summer full of terrible nights.For Kiev, this was one of the worst.Just after midnight, a barrage of Russian missiles.Ukrainian forces conceded they couldn't stop a single one.On the ground, the consequences were searing.At least 17 people killed and dozens injured.

The targets included warehouses and a railway station.Victims' bodies there were only retrieved in daylight.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said those lives could have been saved.Kiev had the missile interceptors he'd repeatedly asked for.We made it through a difficult winter, he says.Today, we're facing a clear shortage.

The shortage of American -made Patriot missiles is blamed by some on the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Now, we have not agreed to that.

And last month the US president walked back a suggestion he may support Ukraine making patriots in Ukraine.But experts say Russia is clearly exploiting Ukraine's vulnerability.

The ballistic missile attacks is one area where Russia has a significant advantage and unfortunately it's not just critical infrastructure but it is affecting ordinary Ukrainian citizens that are being killed.And civilians are keenly aware of the escalation.

It was so scary, I must say.This was my scariest night during the five years.My scariest night.

Zelensky has sought to highlight the threat to civilians.Releasing on Tuesday footage of a drone appearing to pursue a vegetable vendor before exploding, causing him serious injuries.It's terrifying, of course, says the man identified only as Yuri.Really terrifying.An already terrifying conflict taking yet another dangerous turn.Nala Ayyad, CBC News, London.

And a shocking discovery at Leipzig airport where German police say they found and dismantled an explosive drone close to the runway.A diverted DHL cargo plane then hit an unknown object before landing safely nearby.The airport is a major cargo hub for DHL but also for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.Germany has opened a counter -terrorism investigation.In central London, an air ambulance was called in after four people were stabbed in Covent Garden, an area that's hugely popular with tourists.Police say the injuries are not believed to be life -threatening.

A 47 -year -old woman has been arrested.Police say they believe this was an isolated incident.In the U .S., a progressive political newcomer is shaking up the Democratic Party.Abdul Al -Sayed narrowly won Michigan's state primary.

Tom Perry now on the debate his victory has reignited and the test ahead.

A race so close the winner was only declared the morning after.Democratic voters in Michigan narrowly choosing progressive candidate Abdul El -Sayed for a crucial Senate run in November.

We took on a machine.You're not supposed to be able to beat 70 million dollars of outside spending.

Al -Sayed edged out Haley Stevens, who was backed by the Democratic Party establishment and whose campaign received tens of millions of dollars from outside political action committees, including AIPAC, the pro -Israel lobby.Al -Sayed is a staunch critic of Israel and its war in Gaza.His promises include getting money out of politics through campaign finance reform and Medicare for all.The fear for some Democrats that any candidate seen as too progressive will hurt their chances of winning the House and Senate in November.

I think there is that fear, although, of course, we have seen moderate Democrats move to the center and lose the election just the same way.I think that's exactly what we saw with Kamala Harris in 2024.

Republicans are already portraying al -Sayed as dangerous.His Republican opponent going on Fox News to warn the Democratic Party has been takingover by socialists.

This is really about the heart and soul of our country.I have never seen someone so radical, so extreme get nominated by a political party.

U .S.President Donald Trump taking the attack on al -Sayed to an even darker place.

He doesn't love Israel.He doesn't love Jewish people.He hates them.He hates them with a passion that burns in his heart and there's not a freaking thing he can do about it.

With three months to go before the midterms and so much at stake, expect this fight to become more intense and even more ugly.Tom Perry, CBC News, Washington.

The largest known cyclospora outbreak in U .S.history has expanded.The CDC says it's now linked to 15 states.That's up from nine last month.Officials say the main source is iceberg lettuce from central Mexico now recalled more than 10 ,000 cases have been confirmed Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton is in hospital tonight after reports He was harming himself live on social media as Macta Gebre Selassie explains after the disturbing video was witnessed without warning There's concern for those who've seen it Hello, my friend.

It is Perez, the queen of all media, the original influencer.

Online, Perez Hilton has been delivering unfiltered celebrity gossip since the early 2000s, but now a tragic headline.On Tuesday, while live on TikTok, the 48 -year -old appeared to harm himself from his Miami home.

Clips of the violence showing up on other platforms, too.I visibly, like, started shaking, and I had to throw my phone down because I was like, what is that?

Concerned for Hilton's well -being, viewers called police.Hilton's family confirmed he's receiving medical care in hospital.But now this content creator is among many worrying about the lasting effects.

I hope he's okay and I pray for him and his family.That is just awful.All of the millions of people that are going to get this domino effect of traumatization.

It's a concern shared by health care professionals.

If you see a behavior especially in somebody who who has celebrity status and who people look up to.It can it can lead to imitative behavior in especially in younger people.

TikTok is under fire about its response time.

Do they have special rules for live streaming?

Do they actually use AI detection tools and do they have this in place and are they actually working?According to a TikTok U .S.spokesperson, moderation flagged the live stream within minutes.Law enforcement was alerted.The account was banned.

And though people on social media said the live stream was up for 30 minutes, TikTok says it was about half that time.If I was TikTok I would definitely be revisiting kind of how they could have sped up this process.For those concerned about seeing graphic content online this health care expert suggests blocking anything that could be triggering.

The problem is it's very hard to protect yourself from seeing specific things that you don't want to see on social media unless you proactively do it beforehand.

Makda Ghevara -Selassie, CBC News, Toronto.

And if you're in need of support, there's a three -digit suicide crisis helpline you can call or text, 988, where help is available 24 hours a day.Well, after an enormous piece of space debris slammed into the moon this morning at 8 ,700 kilometers an hour, scientists are speaking out about safety in space and here on Earth.Natalia Weichsel now on the growing danger of space junk.

When this SpaceX rocket was launched last year, it shed unnecessary weight, just like they all do.That space junk either burns up in the atmosphere or ends up floating.

It was then just left to physics to to have it continue on its orbit and eventually go where it may.

But unknown forces caused a 4 ,000 -kilogram chunk to go off path, setting it on a collision course with the moon early Wednesday morning, just on the edge of what's visible from Earth, near what's called the Einstein crater.But the circumstances to observe this impact were not great.Images of the crash have yet to be released, but scientists say the whole thing is an opportunity to learn.

If something crashes into the moon and sort of brings up all of this dust, including the layers that are underneath the topsoil, we can get information about the structure, the composition of the moon that we usually wouldn't have access to.

But this astronomer warns that as space travel becomes more frequent, the debris becomes increasingly dangerous.

Looking to the future, when there are moon bases, it could have very bad consequences looking ahead.

And space junk isn't just a space problem.It starts breaking our satellites.We lose that piece of technology that we are very dependent on.

And sometimes it comes crashing back down to earth.This debris was found on a farm in Saskatchewan.Experts are calling for stricter rules to govern how this pollution is managed.

Regulations that we have in place were made for the space race era.The rules apply to governments.It's not clear how they apply to private companies, which is the majority of satellites that are being launched today.

She says work is in progress at the international level to come up with rules, but they need to beput in place to keep space accessible for future safe exploration.Natalia Weichsel, CBC News, Montreal.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is now open to pedestrians and bikes and dozens lined up today to be the first to walk and cycle across.The new bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit spans two and a half kilometers.So that's some pretty good exercise there.The bridge authority estimates it takes about 45 minutes to cross on foot, about 20 minutes by bike.

It's a beautiful day.Everyone's smiling.Great to be among friends and neighbors.This is such a special, unique thing we have here in Detroit, Windsor, both sides of the street.So no, I'm feeling honored to be a part of it.

Authorities do remind people to bring their travel documents if they plan to make the trek.Well, not only did they line up for the bridge, some took that endeavour to the next level.

Pretty much like 28 hours ahead of when it was about to open.

The length he went to be the first cyclist to cross.Plus, Lloyd Robertson was a trusted voice for Canadians for more than half a century.

And that's the kind of day it's been for all of us at CTV News.Goodbye.

Peter Mansbridge and Lisa Laflamme reflect on his legacy.A young tennis phenom has all eyes on the court.The buzz around the rising star, we're back in two.Well, some of the biggest names in Canadian tennis are among those playing the National Bank Open, including Montreal -born Leila Fernandez in the women's tournament.Fernandez moving on after a straight sets win in round two.And there's a 21 -year -old making a splash on the WTA Tour, fresh off her first win.

As Shianne Desjardins shows us from the tournament, she's not Canadian, but Alex Ayala is giving fans in Toronto's Filipino community another player to cheer on.

hit Toronto.Of course, to cheer on rising Filipino Iola at the National Bank biggest tennis tournament.

day is watching Alexie Ella and we cherish her a lot.

up to watch her practice W Iola won her first title o she's selling out tournament.Surprising organizers and prompting them to add a Filipino dish to the menu.

We've never really seen it before this early in the tournament where a players has so much enthusiasm especially from a community.Usually it's hundreds of fans or a couple hundred fans.This is thousands of fans coming out.

They greeted her this week as she arrived at the stadium.

It's nice to see you know that the Filipino community is really showing up and and they're enjoying tennis and and you know hopefully it will help grow the sport as well.

So many people have come to this tournament specifically for Ayala but the tennis world aren't surprised by the hype at all.One Canadian Olympian says not only is Ayala great on the court but she's relatableoff it too.

You have a lot of the ingredients, so to say, to be successful on the tour.And really, she has it all.I mean, she's got this charisma, this off the court that absolutely everybody loves.

Yala is already inspiring the next generation of players, like seven -year -old Noah Batista -Cruz.To me, she's the best player ever.Go Alex!

Go Team Philippines!

Bringing together sports lovers and a community too.Sian Deshalde, CBC News, Toronto.

Tonight, Prime Minister Mark Carney is one of many Canadians reflecting on the six -decade career of news anchor and journalist Lloyd Robertson.A statement from the Prime Minister reads in part...He was a familiar face in our living rooms, a reassuring voice in moments of uncertainty, and a calm and steady presence through the moments that shaped our nation.He helped safeguard a free and vigorous fourth estate.

The one word that keeps popping up is trust.You don't hear people talk about trust in media much anymore.

Just ahead, two of Robertson's former colleagues tell us how he blazed a trail for them and for so many others.Lisa Laflamme and Peter Mansbridge, up next.What Lloyd Robertson's six -decade career meant for this country and for broadcast journalism.And in the news tonight.From the early days of television, Robertson honed his skills here at CBC News, including six years as host of this program.Then he made the news by jumping to CTV.

Money was not the issue.

But what about that very important relationship between you and the president?You played a lot of golf with Bill Clinton.We don't see you much.

With his death at age 92,we reached out to Lisa Laflamme, his successor as CTV's chief anchor, and Peter Mansbridge, the former chief correspondent here at CBC News.Lisa, Peter, I mean, the reason we're speaking with both of you tonight is because you each knew Lloyd very well, so I just want to begin with condolences to both of you for your friend.But Lisa, You had a very close working relationship with Lloyd at CTV.What were your thoughts when you heard the news yesterday?

Well, immediate sadness.I have to say when his daughters called me, I just knew.And it's that call you dread receiving because how do you say goodbye to someone like Lloyd Robertson?And I know that the country, millions of Canadians saw him as a legendary broadcaster, which he was.But for me, he was truly a cherished friend, my favourite teacher.and the steady hand for well over 35 years and I have, I just owe him so much.

in my life and I'm just deeply saddened for his family, their loss, and also it took me back, I let my mind just wander to years and years of stories that we covered together and the toughest times, some of the funniest times.There's just so much, as you say, attached to that, the relationship I've always had with Lloyd, truly as my mentor.

And Peter, I mean look, you were a competitor of Lloyd's.At 10 o 'clock on CBC there you were anchoring this show, and then at 11 there's Lloyd anchoring the big show over at CTV for years.But you both actually worked together at CBC early on, so he became a competitor, but he was also a colleague and a friend as well.I wonder what your thoughts were when you heard the news.

Yeah, absolutely.You know, a competitor, a rival at times, but a friend always.You know, we first worked together in 1970 when he was the anchor of the CBC Radio News, and I was a, you know, fledgling young reporter in Churchill, Manitoba.And he was anchoring the Royal Tour of 1970, and I was one of the reporters on the tour.And so that's when I first got to meet him and he took me aside the same way he took Lisa aside and others over the years and said, you know, are you comfortable?What do you need to know?

What can I, how can I help you?And he was always that way.And for six years while he was still at the CBC, we both moved into television.We did programs together and he was the same way.He was also, when I got the top CBC job in 1988, the first phone call I got was from Lloyd over at CTV wishing me luck.and saying, you know, anytime you need any help, just call me.

Interesting.I got a clip to play here from a CBC talk show in 1976.We'll pick it up afterward, but let's give a listen.

You are no longer going to be the man who holds the most prestigious on -camera post at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.Now, for the first time, perhaps you can honestly tell us, why are you leaving?

The reason was because as I looked down the road, I saw the shadows of more overlapping union jurisdiction difficulty at the CBC.And at the CTV, at CTV network, said, total freedom, whatever you want to do, you can write, you can go in the field and report, you can anchor, you know, you will have freedom to do what you want to do.

So that's when Lloyd shocked Canadians by quitting the chief job at CBC, moving over to CTV.And in large part, it was because he didn't want to be just a talking head, right?Lloyd wanted to be a journalist.Back in the 70s, CBC News anchors were essentially outlaws.right?And he wanted to be more than that.

So Peter, tell us about that.How Lloyd changed the role of anchor at CBC and what that meant for you.

Yeah, it was more they were announcers as opposed to journalists.And that's what really stuck in his craw.He wanted that changed.And many of us wanted that changed too, but going up against the unions, it wasn't working.So he made the big leap over to CTV.And I can tell you that that changed the face of broadcast journalism in Canada.

At the time, people thought it was just one person, but that started the movement towards journalists as anchors.You know, at the CBC, it finally changed.Peter Kent, and then Nolten Nash, and then myself, and now Adrienne Arsenault.The change was made, and, you know, a lot of us, including Lisa and I, can thank Lloyd for that happening.He set the bar for all of us as journalists and anchors, but he also set the bar that anchors can be journalists.It seems obvious now, but back then it sure wasn't.

And Lisa, of course, Lloyd also helped.carve a path for you.I remember the day you became the chief anchor at CTV when Lloyd retired.You'd been the top journalist at that network to that point.Big passing of the torch, though, that night.What was that like, stepping into that role?

Tell me about the transition.

Just for context, you're talking about when Lloyd left CBC and went to CTV, which was, I think, 1976, which is probably right around the time I would have been in about grade six, that I started watching the 11 o 'clock news every night.So for me, my entire childhood and right through my life, it was Lloyd.So I mean,I wanted to be a journalist, but I could have never dreamed that I could, I can't even say replace him, I still can't after all these years, but become the next anchor.And remember, this was something that hadn't been done.Lloyd believed in journalism.

certainly championing women and he championed me and he believed there were no barriers, which was very unique at the time.He really was truly an incredible, I keep using the word mentor, but more than that, to have someone like Lloyd Robertson believe in you, and teach you and instill in you the importance of journalism and that truth matters, but most importantly, people matter.And that is what I learned from him.And on that day, I was scared to death.I may have been smiling on the outside, but I'm going to be anchoring the CTV National News after Lloyd Robertson after all these years.I was scared, but he was there.

And he was there every night.And he used to write me a note every night.And on the anniversary, which was Labor Day, when I started, every single Labor Day night, when that newscast ended at 1130 from the mezzanine, there would be Lloyd and Wendy Freeman, who was our president, just to say, happy anniversary, Lisa.Like, he was just always there.And a great friend through all of it.

You're going to make me cry, Lisa.A couple of last points from each of you.Peter, first, why did Lloyd mean so much to Canadians?

Trust.You know, the thing I've heard all throughout today, listening to people talk about Lloyd and reading about it on social media, the one word that keeps popping up is trust.And here's why that's so important.You don't hear people talk about trust in media much anymore.It's really taken a hit over the last 10, 15 years.It never took a hit with Lloyd.

He was always known as the guy you could trust.

Lisa, last word to you.How do you think Lloyd will be remembered?

You know, Lloyd's superpower really was never losing sight of who we as journalists were working for.And we were working for Canadians to help them live a better life.a clearer, more informed life, which is a right.And he made sure we always kept that in focus.And I think that's how he'll be remembered.Trust, certainly, which we are tragically seeing an erosion of.

We had long conversations about the decimation of local newsrooms, and I know that would be a whole other panel to get into.But these things deeply matter to him.They matter to us, his team and his friends.feel like, for him, we have to keep up the fight for good, honest journalism and facts and humanity.

I think Lloyd would have loved this conversation.Thanks to both of you, Lisa, Peter.Thank you.

Thank you, Paul.Great to see you.Take care.

When a London, UK neighbourhood needed a flooding solution, community groups suggested bringing in beavers.And it worked.The beavers were brought in as part of a rewilding initiative in London, but they also saved a local tube station from flooding.In the spring, Briar Stewart found out how these rodents saved the day.

This is the moment that patience paid off.When a crowd was silenced by the rustling in the bush.as one of London's newest beavers waddled into view.

So we're all crouched down here being really, really quiet because we're getting a very good view of Mama Beaver just over there in the trees, just going to town on the branches.

Meet Willow, one of the city's only wild beavers, a nursing mom who seemingly couldn't care less that we're all watching and recording her evening meal.We even got a good view of her iron -enriched orange teeth.She's one of five beavers who were moved from Scotland to this green space less than 10 kilometres from Heathrow Airport in 2023.

Mum, Willow, heaviest beaver to be moved in the country.Like translocated.She weighed 30 kilograms.

Oh wow.

I'm sure she weighs a little bit more now but I don't want to body shame her but she is a big mum.

And she's the matriarch of a beaver colony who's helped to solve a problem by doing what beavers do, building dams to control the flow of water.During heavy rainfall, the urban area around this park used to routinely flood, including the local tube station, the council.had already planned expensive engineering works when several community groups pitched an idea.Try leaving it to the beavers.After they were released into this wetland at the end of 2023 the flooding at the tube station seems to have stopped.And that's due to the beavers?

Yeah.

Everything downstream is much more protected from flooding than it was before.All because they want to hold that water back so that they have enough water to swim in and feel safe.

And that's not the only positive.It's a little bit wilder in the sea.That's sort of the point, isn't it?Shaniz Mustafa is an urban beaver officer.It's a new role designed to help engage and educate the public about the beavers.And she says biodiversity at the site has also improved.

She's now seeing fish and more birds since the beavers moved in.So it's been 400 years since the beavers were last living in London and like the rest of the UK they had disappeared because they had been hunted for their fur, for their meat and for their musk.The Ealing Beaver Project, as this is called, is part of a growing plan to try and rewild Britain.and in particular the sprawling congested capital.The city's mayor says he's making it a priority.

We will hold in our city, boosting our biodiversity, preventing floods.For me it's an issue of also social justice because many Londoners don't have a garden.

The project is publicly accessible and a few times a week they run sold -out fever safaris.Oh no, it's still going, going, going.

It's going back to the lodges.

where they get some of the background.For instance, the beavers here are the Eurasian species, not the same kind you see in Canada.Some are so keen that they even pick up a souvenir.Many, like Amanda Ram, came from Canada.learning about the site from a David Attenborough documentary called Wild London.

There's like a McDonald's right here and there's like a TK Maxx and then there's like this project which you wouldn't expect to be in this park but it is and I think they've made this an amazing landscape as well and that's what beavers do isn't it?They make things better.

It's believed there are at least eight beavers now at this site.This mom has had more than four kits including two that the project staff call chewy and chompy.It's still a mystery how many she's had this year.

She's beautiful, isn't she?She's stunning and so lucky to have seen her.Yeah, I feel privileged.

I'm from Canada and that's the closest I've ever seen a beaver.So there you go.

You had to come to the west of London to see one.

I mean, I've seen her up close once before, but never for this long.I'm hoping that, of course, we'll inspire other projects, but we'll prove to more and more people that people and beavers can live together in an urban landscape across, you know, different areas of Greater London and who knows where else.

A new beaver project is now in the works for South London, even as this colony continues to grow.

Coming up, a Windsor man camps out in front of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

Gotta be a man of my word and actually do this.

why he waited more than 28 hours for it to open to pedestrians is next in our moment.This is Justin Belmore camping out in front of the Gordie Howe Bridge.He was in that very spot for more than 28 hours waiting for it to open to pedestrians and bikers.For months he told his friends and family that he was going tothe first to bike across the bridge, and he kept his word.That very first ride makes our moment.

I was kind of just camping out from last night in front of the Gordie Howe Bridge.I was just kind of joking around with people that I wanted to be like the first to cross it on the bike.I got to be a man of my word and actually do this.I was there pretty much like 28 hours ahead of when it was about to open.It worked almost too well because I really could have saved myself probably like at least half of that.I was expecting someone at some point yesterday, but I went the whole day and still no one.

When it opened, people started showing up.You could feel like the excitement building.I was the first person on, got on my bike and just kind of sent it, like rode as fast as I could.I went through, like, customs.I literally just had, like, a granola bar.I'm like, I don't even know if I have to declare this, but I just will.

I understand, like, it is crazy that I camped out for that long, but to be the first one is awesome.

That's determination, man.It's the new Gordie Howe Hattrick.Bridge, a bike, and Justin Belmore, right?From all of us here at the National, thanks for being with us on Paul Hunter.Take care.