Arcade Fire returns to Montreal for first time since sexual assault allegations
Arcade Fire returns to the Bell Centre tonight.
That line would typically be ended with an exclamation point, but for the local band's first show in Montreal since headlining Osheaga in July, the homecoming is less of a triumphant return this time.
It is the last show of the band's "We" tour and the first since the American music publication Pitchfork's story on the sexual misconduct allegations against frontman Win Butler by multiple people.
If ticket prices are any indication, the band is not commanding the demand it once did.
The ticket reseller Stubhub had tickets on sale for as low as $19 on Saturday morning. Premium seats are selling for as low as $52 with general admission floor seats as low as $145.
Evenko has tickets on its site in almost all sections, including general admission on the floor for $166.
Response on social media has been mixed with some fans posting pictures of packed shows in Toronto on Friday night, while others posted about the vibe being low.
"Okay so I bought arcade fire tickets before they got 'cancelled' - this show is so depressing as an actual fan," wrote one former fan. "Low energy. Low attendance. No one's into it. It's literally depressing."
Other Twitter users replied to the user's post with pictures of fans on the floor enjoying the show.
"Sick of the pile-on," wrote one Twitter user. "Are people cancelling everyone? The show was packed and amazing."
ALLEGATIONS AND CANCELLATIONS
The Pitchfork article in August recounted how three young women between 18 and 23 alleged Butler sent unsolicited and explicit texts and photos and aggressively pursued them between 2016 and 2020.
A gender-fluid person who was 21 alleged Butler sexually assaulted them in 2015.
Butler was in his late 30s at the time and married to bandmate Regine Chassagne. The couple had a son in 2013.
Butler released a lengthy statement admitting to "consensual relationships" outside of his marriage.
Grammy-winning artist Beck was on the concert ticket for the North American leg of Arcade Fire's tour but backed out in October.
Beck made no comment about his reasons for leaving the tour.
Award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Fiest also left the tour due to the allegations.
“I’ve always written songs to name my own subtle difficulties, aspire to my best self, and claim responsibility when I need to,” said Feist in a tweet in September. “And I’m claiming my responsibility now and going home.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PM Trudeau presenting premiers with health-care funding offer
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is presenting the federal government's offer for billions in new health-care funding to the provinces and territories at a highly anticipated meeting in Ottawa today. At the first in-person meeting of all First Ministers in years, Trudeau is set to outline how much money his government is willing to provide, and what his expectations are for improving care.
Newborn, toddler saved from rubble in quake-hit Syrian town
Residents digging through a collapsed building in a northwest Syrian town discovered a crying infant whose mother appears to have given birth to her while buried underneath the rubble from this week's devastating earthquake, relatives and a doctor said Tuesday.
Canadians now expect to need $1.7M in order to retire: BMO survey
Canadians now believe they need $1.7 million in savings in order to retire, a 20 per cent increase from 2020, according to a new BMO survey. The eye-watering figure is the largest sum since BMO first started surveying Canadians about their retirement expectations 13 years ago.
BREAKING
BREAKING | B.C. to make National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid statutory holiday
The British Columbia government has introduced legislation to make Sept. 30 a paid statutory holiday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
U.S. actor facing sex charges in Nevada also facing charge in B.C.
A former actor in the movie 'Dances With Wolves' who is facing eight sex-related charges in Nevada is also facing a charge in British Columbia.
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands pledge Ukraine Leopard 1 tanks
Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands announced Tuesday that they plan to provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 battle tanks, a pledge that comes as Kyiv anticipates a new Russian offensive around the anniversary of its invasion.
Dog named Kujo likely to 'kill or injure,' B.C. court rules in euthanasia decision
A dog named Kujo will be euthanized after a B.C. judge determined the animal is "likely to kill or injure" if released from the pound.
Quake deaths pass 6,200 as Turkiye, Syria seek survivors
Search teams and emergency aid from around the world poured into Turkiye and Syria on Tuesday as rescuers working in freezing temperatures dug, sometimes with their bare hands, through the remains of buildings flattened by a powerful earthquake. The death toll soared above 6,200 and was still expected to rise.
Canada announces $10 million in aid to Turkiye, Syria after deadly earthquake
Ottawa says Canada will contribute $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkiye and Syria as part of an initial aid package.
Toronto
-
'We are desperate': Family of slain Toronto tech CEO renews $250,000 reward in unsolved murder case
Nearly five years after Matthew Staikos was gunned down in Toronto, the family of the tech CEO has renewed a $250,000 reward in the unsolved murder case.
-
European family moves to Toronto in long-term Airbnb. A 'loophole' got them an eviction notice midway
For a Switzerland professor contracted to work in Ontario for a year, Airbnb looked like the right option for a family of five.
-
Video emerges of moments before former child actor was fatally run down on the Danforth
Surveillance video of the moments before a former child actor was run down by a vehicle on the Danforth has been obtained by CTV News Toronto as police search for the driver.
Atlantic
-
Former Halifax medical student denies he killed fellow student for financial gain
A former medical student who claims he fatally shot a fellow student in self-defence during a drug deal in Halifax denied Tuesday he planned to kill the man and steal the marijuana he was carrying.
-
Man found dead behind Nova Scotia Power substation in Stellarton
A man has been found dead behind a Nova Scotia Power substation in Stellarton, N.S. Police are investigating the incident as a possible theft.
-
Shooting death of man in Dartmouth ruled a homicide, victim identified
The shooting death of a man in Dartmouth, N.S., over the weekend has been ruled a homicide and the victim has been identified.
London
-
Fatal fire under investigation on Dundas Street
London police officers and fire officials are investigating after a fatal fire in the east end of the city Monday afternoon.
-
London fraudster case closed after his death is confirmed
The court case involving the London man who defrauded Canada Post of more than $235,000 is now closed.
-
Multi-vehicle crash snaps hydro pole and cuts power
The public is asked to avoid a section of Highbury Avenue after a vehicle collision downed powerlines in the area.
Northern Ontario
-
Northern highways reopen following brief closure due to weather
Several highways in northeastern Ontario are reopened after a winter storm created hazardous road conditions Tuesday morning.
-
U.S. 6-year-old who shot teacher allegedly tried to choke another
A 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher constantly cursed at staff and teachers, chased students around and tried to whip them with his belt and once choked another teacher 'until she couldn't breathe,' according to a legal notice filed by an attorney for the wounded teacher.
-
Netflix to begin password sharing crackdown in Canada. What you need to know
Netflix users who have been sharing their passwords with friends and family members who live hundreds – or even thousands – of kilometres away won’t be able to do so for much longer, as the streaming service announced its plans to end password sharing.
Calgary
-
Pedestrian hit and killed by CTrain at Dalhousie Station fell: Calgary police
Calgary police say a pedestrian who was hit and killed by a CTrain on Tuesday morning appears to have fallen off the platform.
-
Vehicle strikes pedestrian on 68th Street N.E.
A woman was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after she was hit by a vehicle in the city's northeast Tuesday morning.
-
'X-Men' star James McAvoy coming to the 2023 Calgary Expo
Actor James McAvoy will attend the 2023 Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo.
Kitchener
-
'Loved what I did': Google layoffs impact Waterloo region employees
Some Waterloo region Google employees are now jobless after the tech company announced cuts.
-
Waterloo regional councillors want more automated speed enforcement
Region of Waterloo staff are hoping to double the number of automated speed enforcement sites in the region to 32 this year, but councillors want to see even more cameras added at a faster pace.
-
48-year-old woman dies after Wellington County crash
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Wellington County are investigating a fatal two-vehicle collision in the Township of Wellington North.
Vancouver
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | B.C. to make National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid statutory holiday
The British Columbia government has introduced legislation to make Sept. 30 a paid statutory holiday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
-
U.S. actor facing sex charges in Nevada also facing charge in B.C.
A former actor in the movie 'Dances With Wolves' who is facing eight sex-related charges in Nevada is also facing a charge in British Columbia.
-
'A largely absent resource': Those who call on Vancouver's police-based mental health team hope funding boost will improve service
There’s so much demand for Vancouver’s mental health emergency teams that people can be left waiting days, and sometimes teams never make it to requests for service at all. It’s hoped a funding boost to hire more staff will increase capacity of the service.
Edmonton
-
Mother charged with sexual abuse of toddler in Edmonton area after FBI tip
A Strathcona County toddler has been rescued from suspected sexual exploitation, and the child's mother has been charged, police said.
-
Former B.C., Alta., public health doctor guilty of sex crimes against a child
A former Alberta public health official has been found guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference in a case involving a child.
-
More than 2,000 parking tickets handed out as residential parking ban ends: city
The city says the phase 2 residential parking ban will be lifted Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Windsor
-
Fatal crash in Kingsville claims two lives, injures third
Two people have died in a serious single-vehicle crash in Kingsville, a third person was injured and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
-
Essex-Windsor EMS vote in favour of strike
The union representing Essex-Windsor EMS says paramedics have voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action.
-
OPP seeking information after shots fired at Lakeshore home
OPP is investigating after multiple rounds were shot at a Lakeshore home while the residents were inside.
Regina
-
RCMP investigating fatal collision near Indian Head
A 50-year-old woman is dead after two semis collided on Highway #1 near Indian Head.
-
Geothermal project in southeast Sask. to begin in late 2023
A geothermal power project in southeast Saskatchewan is set to begin construction in late 2023.
-
'I've never seen anyone move like him': Olympic sprinter making waves on U of R track team
Usheoritse "Dushos" Itsekiri is in his second season with the University of Regina track and field team. Itsekiri was a member of Nigeria's Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Ottawa
-
Highbridge Construction owes $106,000 in rent on storefront
There is a new sign of financial issues with an Ottawa construction company that suddenly closed, leaving customers with unfinished projects unable to recoup their losses.
-
Federal union files complaint against CRA over work-from-home rules
One of Canada's largest unions representing public servants has filed a bad-faith bargaining complaint against the Canada Revenue Agency over what it's calling an "about-face" on the issue of working from home.
-
Thieves cut huge hole in Ottawa restaurant wall to get at jewelry store next door
An Ottawa restaurateur says he was shocked to find his restaurant broken into and even more surprised to discover a giant hole in the wall that led to the neighbouring jewelry store.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon police investigating suspicious death
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is restricting traffic on range road 3062 as they investigate a suspicious death in the area.
-
Man accused of killing Saskatoon youth advocate will plead guilty to manslaughter
A man accused of killing a Saskatoon youth advocate and volunteer has arranged a plea deal, according to his defence lawyer.
-
Saskatchewan residents prefer cats over dogs, survey finds
While 56 per cent of Canadians prefer dogs over cats, in Saskatchewan the opposite is true, according to a new survey.