CTV News at 5 Atlantic
CTV News at 5 - Maria Panopalis
Maria Panopalis - Producer and Host of CTV News at 5
Maria Panopalis is the host and producer of CTV News at 5.
Maria is a familiar face to Maritime viewers. She first joined CTV Atlantic in 2002, starting as a floor director and production assistant before moving to CTV Morning Live as a co-host. She continues to bring her enthusiasm, infectious spirit and professionalism to CTV News at 5.
Maria enjoys sharing stories unique to our region and spent a year travelling the Maritimes, looking for undiscovered gems which she documented in the weekly segment In Our Backyard. One of her stories won a Radio and Television Digital News Award for Best Short Feature. She was also recognized with a prestigious International Edward R. Murrow Award for Breakfast Television in Nicaragua.
Originally from Halifax, Maria has a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University, a Journalism degree from the University of King’s College and a post-graduate diploma in Applied Information Technology.
In 2005, Maria won Making it Big, a North American reality show which pitted her against two other contestants for the title of best entertainment reporter. Maria also provided high-energy coverage for CTV Atlantic when the Juno Awards came to Halifax in April 2006.
Maria is heavily involved in the community and lends her time and support to a wide variety of CTV-supported organizations such as the IWK Health Centre, the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.
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CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Dogs, drones, and word of mouth: How police narrowed in on Luigi Mangione
After UnitedHealthcare's CEO was gunned down on a New York sidewalk, police searched for the masked gunman with dogs, drones and scuba divers.
'Governor Justin Trudeau': Trump appears to mock PM in social media post
Amid a looming tariff threat, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump appears to be mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to him as 'Governor Justin Trudeau' in a post on Truth Social early Tuesday.
Canada sanctions 8 past and present Chinese officials, alleging 'grave human rights violations'
Eight past and present senior Chinese officials are the subjects of new human rights sanctions, the Canadian government said Tuesday.
'I never got the impression he would self-destruct:' Friends of suspect in fatal CEO shooting left in shock
Months before police identified Luigi Mangione as the man they suspect gunned down a top health insurance CEO and then seemingly vanished from Midtown Manhattan, another disappearing act worried his friends and family.
Google pulls McDonald's negative reviews over arrest in UnitedHealth murder
Google on Monday removed derogatory reviews about McDonald's MCD.N after the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson was arrested at its restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police say a customer alerted a local employee about him.
BREAKING
BREAKING 'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel Prize in physics
Artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield have received the Nobel Prize for physics at a ceremony in Stockholm.
Taxpayer-funded Eras Tour tickets returned by federal minister
While tens of thousands of fans packed Vancouver's BC Place for the last shows of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, a federal cabinet minister wasn't one of them.
'Serial fraud artist': Crown wants 8-year jail term for fake nurse who treated nearly 1K B.C. patients
B.C. Crown prosecutors are calling for an eight-year prison term for a woman who illegally treated nearly 1,000 patients across the province while impersonating a real nurse.
Union dropped wage demand to 19% over four years in Canada Post negotiations: CUPW
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has reportedly dropped its wage demand to 19 per cent over four years, CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant told CTV News.
Toronto
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Police in York Region arrest 17 suspects, seize $14M worth of drugs in investigation into alleged criminal network
Police in York Region have arrested 17 people and seized $14 million worth of drugs in connection with a “criminal network” allegedly actively planning home invasions, armed robberies and drug trafficking.
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Recall issued for pistachio chocolate brand sold across Canada due to ‘possible salmonella’
Chocolate lovers are being advised to check their cupboards following a recall of a pistachio-flavoured chocolate that was sold in Ontario and across Canada due to a salmonella risk.
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Torontonians will likely spend 1 year and 7 months of their life on public transit: report
Torontonians who commute to work everyday will likely spend about one year and seven months of their life on public transit, according to a new report.
Calgary
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Parents charged in toddler son's death plead guilty to manslaughter
The parents accused in the death of their 18-month-old son pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in a Calgary courtroom Monday.
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'Ridiculous': Calgary retailers prepare for GST holiday this week
A temporary federal tax break set to start this weekend is causing confusion for Calgary retailers – and it's also coming at a cost.
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Syrian refugees in Calgary react to fall of Assad regime with joy, trepidation
There's joy and trepidation among Syrian refugees in Calgary in the aftermath of the ousting of the Assad regime in that country.
Edmonton
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Largest AI data centre in the world to be built in northwest Alberta
The world's largest Artificial Intelligence data centre will be built in northwest Alberta and comes with an estimated $70 billion price tag.
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WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Cooler, cloudy and some light snow
The string of warmer-than-average temperatures is over.
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Family spokesman says slain Edmonton security guard had only been working 3 days
A spokesman for the family of a security guard who police say was murdered while patrolling an Edmonton apartment building last week says the man had only been on the job for three days.
Montreal
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Passengers forced off plane after smoke spotted at Montreal airport
Passengers on an plane about to leave Montreal for Fort Lauderdale were forced to leave their plane and reboard from another gate after smoke was spotted coming from a preconditioned air unit near the gate.
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Environmental Law Centre suing Quebec over info registry
The Quebec Centre for Environmental Law (CQDE) is suing the Quebec government over its failure to put the public environmental information registry online within an acceptable timeframe, which “compromises citizen participation and environmental protection.”
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'Looking for the Weinstein of Quebec': Impresario Gilbert Rozon's civil trial begins
Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon's civil trial for sexual assault opened Monday at the Montreal courthouse with his lawyer portraying him as the scapegoat in a hunt to find Quebec's Harvey Weinstein.
Ottawa
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RAINFALL WARNINGRAINFALL WARNING Ottawa could receive up to 40 mm of rain Tuesday and Wednesday
Ottawa is set to receive a soaking from Mother Nature, with up to 40 mm of rain possible over the next two days. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Ottawa and eastern Ontario, calling for rain, heavy at times, tonight and on Wednesday.
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111 tickets issued in first 8 days of winter no-stopping restrictions on street near Ottawa Hospital General Campus
A "no-stopping zone" is in effect on a section of the eastern side of Lynda Lane, near Smyth Road, between Dec. 1 and March 31. In the first eight days of the winter "no-stopping zone" rules, 111 tickets were issued to vehicles for violating the order.
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Ottawa home prices jump 4.6 per cent in November, report shows
Ottawa home sales cooled in November, but the price of buying a new home increased 4.6 per cent last month.
London
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'Fully loaded gun' and drugs seized as part of London traffic stop
Around 10 p.m. on Sunday. police saw a vehicle travelling northbound in the southbound lanes of a construction zone in the area of Wellington Road and Southdale Road.
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Pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries in London crash
Around 8 p.m., emergency crews responded to the intersection of Adelaide Street north and Huron Street for the crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian.
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This week's forecast 'one to watch' with wildly varying temperatures and conditions
The region is set to experience a weather roller coaster this week, with temperatures swinging wildly, rain, fog and snow squalls.
Barrie
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Ring in the New Year in downtown Barrie with country star Madeline Merlo
Rising country music star Madeline Merlo will take centre stage at Barrie’s Downtown Countdown this New Year’s Eve, leading a night of celebration with her soulful sound and chart-topping hits.
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School bus cancellations are pouring in after ice storm
Several school boards have already cancelled their buses early Tuesday morning.
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Brazen alcohol theft from Tottenham LCBO
Police are looking for two men visited an LCBO in Tottenham in late November.
Northern Ontario
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Sudbury, Ont., family traumatized after hospital said loved one had been released, when in fact they had passed away
Sudbury resident Angela Vitiello says a staff member at Health Sciences North told her that her brother, Allan St. Martin, was released from the hospital late last month when, in fact, he had passed away.
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Sudbury police have several assault suspects in custody
Sudbury police closed an intersection downtown at Elm Street and Eyre Street Tuesday morning after an assault involving several people.
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ATV driver in northern Ont. who fled spot check got stuck in a swamp
A getaway went wrong for an ATV driver in Spanish, Ont., recently when they were caught by police on foot
Kitchener
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'Near-zero visibility' from fog prompts weather advisory for Waterloo Region, Wellington County
The fog advisory, which came into effect early Tuesday morning, is expected to remain in place until late morning as dense fog blankets the region.
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Man charged for damaging accessible van in Kitchener
Waterloo Regional Police have arrested a man after an accessible van was damaged in Kitchener.
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Woman’s necklace stolen while giving directions to child: police
Police said the victim was placing items in her car at Willow West Mall just before 1 p.m. when a small black car stopped close to her. A child reportedly lowered the back window and asked for directions to a business.
Windsor
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Confusion over closure of Windsor WSIB office, remote services offered
A group of injured workers and their supporters gathered in Windsor Monday afternoon — pushing for more supports for those hurt and made sick on the job.
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Woman dies after vehicle crashes into south Windsor home
Windsor police say a 73-year-old woman has died after a vehicle hit a house in south Windsor.
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'Project Red Ribbon' launches in Windsor-Essex this week
The annual event raises awareness about the risks of impaired driving during the holiday season and urges people to plan ahead.
Winnipeg
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Some small businesses concerned about making changes to comply with GST holiday
As the federal government prepares to lift the GST on a laundry list of items on Saturday, some small businesses are concerned making it happen will be a huge problem.
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Canadian cancer patients facing roughly $33K in costs: report
A new report is highlighting the significant financial burden facing those who have received a cancer diagnosis.
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Here's how much snow fell in parts of Manitoba Sunday
A low pressure system brought snow, freezing rain and freezing drizzle to much of southern Manitoba starting Sunday.
Regina
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Province reviewing work environment in Regina hospitals following alleged misconduct
The Government of Saskatchewan is mounting a work environment review for physicians in Regina following allegations of racism, misconduct, and a lack of professionalism.
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Sask. Court of Appeal denies White City's request to annex 4,000 acres from RM of Edenwold
A land dispute that's been taking place just east of Regina for the past six years has been put to rest, according to the Rural Municipality (RM) of Edenwold.
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'I never got the impression he would self-destruct:' Friends of suspect in fatal CEO shooting left in shock
Months before police identified Luigi Mangione as the man they suspect gunned down a top health insurance CEO and then seemingly vanished from Midtown Manhattan, another disappearing act worried his friends and family.
Saskatoon
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Emergency crews searching the South Saskatchewan River for body of missing man
Saskatoon police and firefighters have begun searching the South Saskatchewan River for the body of a 48-year-old man who went missing late last month.
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Sask. RCMP lay murder charge in fatal February shooting
The Saskatchewan RCMP have charged a man with first-degree murder for a fatal February shooting in North Battleford.
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Sask. hockey player recovering after near fatal skate accident during game
The Sask East Hockey League (SEHL) has released details of a near fatal accident at one of its games over the weekend – which saw a Churchbridge Imperials player suffer serious injuries after being struck with a skate.
Vancouver
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Park users push back as Vancouver edges Killarney, Memorial South Park FIFA plans forward
It was a tense evening at a Vancouver Park Board meeting on Monday, as commissioners voted to advance plans to build FIFA training facilities at Killarney Park and Memorial South Park, at a combined cost of $25-million.
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Police nabbed 200 impaired drivers over the weekend, B.C. Highway Patrol says
Mounties say they took more than 200 impaired drivers off highways in B.C. over the weekend during the annual “Light Up the Province” campaign.
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B.C. soccer player injured in shooting near Ohio university campus
A 22-year-old soccer player from Langley, B.C., who plays for Ohio State University was injured by a stray bullet during an exchange of gunfire near campus Sunday, according to the school.
Vancouver Island
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Toxic drug deaths in October lowest in 4 years, B.C. coroners service says
Toxic drug deaths in October reached a low not seen in years, according to new preliminary data from the B.C. Coroners Service.
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B.C. selects 9 wind power projects to boost energy supply by 8 per cent a year
British Columbia has given the green light to nine wind energy projects that will boost the province's hydro-electric grid by eight per cent a year, enough to power 500,000 homes.
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'Bombshell': Small Business BC abruptly declares bankruptcy
A decades-old non-profit with a mandate of supporting B.C.'s small businesses abruptly declared bankruptcy – resulting in dozens of employees losing their jobs weeks before Christmas.
Kelowna
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Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas
A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas.
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Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026
The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.
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545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down
Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day.
