Anastasia Blosser

Anastasia Blosser is a journalist, writer and photographer based in Toronto. 

Toronto Star •

Peel police announce largest ever gun bust, with nearly all of the 71 firearms seized coming from U.S.

Ten individuals were arrested and charged with a combined total of 185 criminal offences, Peel police said in a media conference Wednesday morning. Most of the charges were related to firearm and drug trafficking according to a media release.The investigation—named Project Chrome—began in September 2023 and looked into a local organized crime network police say is responsible for gun and drug trafficking in the region. It was completed alongside several other law enforcement agencies across the...
Toronto Star •

Pearson warns of disruptions, Porter cancels flights, Toronto hospitals say delays possible amid global CrowdStrike outage

She’d just finished a three-week French program in the city, and Umar planned to fly out to meet her — after which the two would tour New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, he told the Star. But after the cancellation, last-minute flights to Moncton from WestJet or Air Canada were three times as expensive — and wouldn’t have landed until nearly midnight.What kind of compensation can you get for a flight delay?The compensation you can receive for a delayed flight depends on if the airline is res...
Toronto Star •

Video shows cyclists, police officer in heated exchange during ‘ghost bike’ memorial

A memorial bike ride that paid tribute to a cyclist who died from her injuries after being  struck in Etobicoke last month, turned sour on Saturday as attendees were seen clashing with a Toronto police officer. In a video posted on X by Dave Shellnutt, a personal injury lawyer for cyclists and cycling advocate, an officer is seen allegedly taking Shellnutt’s bike out of his hands as he tells others standing in the road to move toward the sidewalk.Shellnutt told the Star the group had taken up tw...
Toronto Star •

‘It was hard to process’: Brampton residents stunned after bus tears through backyards

Stunned Brampton residents are waiting for help from the city after a public transit bus drove through several backyards in the middle of the night.Peel paramedics responded to the crash but said no one was taken to hospital. They confirmed that a bus and car had collided and driven through multiple backyards and fences. The bus and car had no passengers besides the drivers. Paramedics also said the bus driver was awake and responsive at the scene.Ata Ul Haye Ahmad, a high school student who liv...
Toronto Star •

Toronto Waterfront Marathon takes over city’s downtown core for annual race

This year’s race was one of the largest in the marathon’s history, with an estimated 30,000 participants from over 70 countries according to a proclamation from Mayor Olivia Chow. This year’s full marathon has also set a record for the highest number of women ever registered to run the event and over 100,000 spectators are estimated to watch the running from the streets.In 2022, the marathon was recognized with the Evergreen Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, making it the mos...
Toronto Star •

How one Toronto charity is stepping up to help fight the L.A. fires

The group responds to disasters on a national and international scale, often raising funds, distributing aid to regions in need, donating equipment or even sending volunteers to train fire departments abroad. The majority of their efforts are funded by donations with some small government grants awarded.“I personally drove those four units to the airport and I handed them over to Air Canada to send on the plane,” said Adrian Award, a firefighter with Whitby Fire and Emergency Services and a volu...
Toronto Star •

Ontario yanking U.S. alcohol from LCBO shelves ‘indefinitely’ in response to Donald Trump’s tariffs

The removal will roll out Tuesday and will also prohibit Ontario-based restaurants and businesses from restocking and ordering American beer, wine and spirits since the LCBO is the only alcohol wholesaler in the province. She said the order extends to sales of U.S. products to LCBO wholesale customers, and no new wholesale orders or deliveries to restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and other retail channels will be processed.“LCBO is the importer of record for all U.S. alcohol products into Ontar...
Toronto Star •

Plane crash in Toronto: 18 passengers sent to hospital after Delta flight with 80 on board crashes at Pearson; Cause still under investigation; Delays at airport expected for days

Flights have resumed at Pearson after being suspended for a period of time2 runways are still closed and delays are expected for days22 people on the flight were Canadians and the rest were international

Flights have resumed at Pearson after being suspended for a period of time

2 runways are still closed and delays are expected for days

22 people on the flight were Canadians and the rest were international
Toronto Star •

‘I’ve never seen anything like this’: More than 230,000 without power after weekend ice storm — and it could be days before it’s restored

The Ontario government has also sent workers and support resources to provide assistance to areas hardest hit by the ice storm. The Ontario Corps, composed of skilled professionals and volunteers, have been sent by the province to conduct wellness checks and distribute meals and hygiene kits to those without power, according to a news release by the province on Wednesday.

The Ontario government has also sent workers and support resources to provide assistance to areas hardest hit by the ice sto...
Toronto Star •

Ottawa man arrested after hours-long lockdown at Parliament Hill, accused of ‘making threats to the safety of those inside’

The alert urged everyone in the building to “seek shelter in the nearest room” and “close and lock all doors and hide” while waiting for instructions from first responders. “We’re currently in contact with the individual and our priority is to resolve this situation peacefully,” he said. “At this time there is no known injuries and we believe that the man is the only person inside the building.”Police would not say if the man was believed to be armed or whether he had made threats but did say th...