Canadian rapper K'naan charged with sexual assault following arrest in Quebec City
Canadian rapper K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.
The 47-year-old singer, whose real name is Keinaan Abdi Warsame, is behind the 2009 hit Wavin' Flag, which was a promotional anthem during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He was arrested on Monday, according to a Quebec City police spokesperson.
The following day, he was in Toronto to receive the SOCAN cultural impact award for the global resonance of Wavin' Flag.
According to the charge sheet, he is accused of sexually assaulting someone between July 16 and 17, 2010, in the provincial capital. Those dates coincide with the musician's appearance at Quebec City's popular Festival d'été de Québec.
The case was before the court on Thursday and a preliminary inquiry is scheduled for April 23, 2025.
CTV News' attempt to reach the artist was not successful.
K'naan was born in Somalia and moved to the U.S. as a teenager, living in New York and then Toronto. He now lives in New York.
He is a four-time Juno Award winner. In February 2024, he also won his first Grammy Award in the Best Song For Social Change category for Refugee, a song he co-wrote with Steve McEwan, and Gerald Eaton.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
Trudeau cabinet ministers voice confidence in PM day before key Liberal meeting
Several members of Justin Trudeau's cabinet are voicing support for the prime minister one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future leadership is expected to be up for discussion.
Toronto woman spends nearly $2K on parking to visit mom in health-care facilities
A Toronto woman said the cost of parking to visit her mother in hospital, and later in long term care, for 15 months was a financial burden she feels she shouldn’t have had to pay.
Hoard of 1,000-year-old coins unearthed in a farmer's field sells for US$5.6 million
Adam Staples knew he'd found something when his metal detector let out a beep. And then another. And another.
W5 Investigates
W5 Investigates You donated clothing to needy Canadians. So how did it end up in Africa?
In the first of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5 puts a spotlight on how some of the clothes Canadians donate to charity end up in markets in Africa.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief Mike Jeffries arrested on federal sex trafficking charges
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested Tuesday on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, a spokesperson for federal prosecutors said.
Italian surfer dies after being impaled by fish off the coast of Indonesia
An Italian surfer has died after being impaled in the chest by a sharp-billed fish while surfing off Indonesia’s West Sumatra coast.
Tropical Storm Oscar swirls toward the Bahamas after hitting Cuba as a hurricane
Tropical Storm Oscar chugged toward the Bahamas on Tuesday after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 1 hurricane, killing at least six people as it unleashed heavy rains on an island also hit by an unrelated massive power outage.
Woman wedged upside down between rocks for 7 hours after trying to retrieve her phone
A woman who tried to retrieve her lost phone from between boulders in Australia’s Hunter Valley became stuck upside down for seven hours before she was rescued earlier this month.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Toronto
-
Toronto woman spends nearly $2K on parking to visit mom in health-care facilities
A Toronto woman said the cost of parking to visit her mother in hospital, and later in long term care, for 15 months was a financial burden she feels she shouldn’t have had to pay.
-
Thousands of international students miss fall semester amid uncertainty, visa delays
Thousands of international students expected to study at three Ontario colleges are missing the fall semester, after Ottawa announced it would further tighten Canada's study permit system.
-
More than $500K in stolen property recovered following investigation into Ontario golf course thefts
More than $500,000 in stolen property has been recovered following an investigation into a rash of break-and-enters at Ontario golf courses.
Ottawa
-
10 years later, Ottawa remembers 2014 Parliament Hill shooting
Memorials and tributes are taking place across Ottawa on Tuesday to remember Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honour guard stationed at the National War Memorial, killed 10 years ago today.
-
Food banks request financial support from Ottawa City Hall to address food insecurity
The Community Services Committee debated the city's new Poverty Reduction Strategy on Tuesday, outlining short-term actions for 2025-26. The five pillars for the strategy are: food security, employment, financial security, economic development, and integrated and simplified pathways.
-
Photo radar cameras catch dozens of Ottawa police cruisers over the summer
The Ottawa Police Service has received hundreds of speeding tickets so far this year, as the city's photo radar cameras catch police cruisers in school zones and community safety zones.
Atlantic
-
BREAKING
BREAKING Halifax police confirm body of Walmart employee was found in walk-in oven
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
-
N.B. Liberals will form majority government; Holt to become province's first female premier
CTV News is projecting the New Brunswick Liberals will form a majority government in the province, returning to power for the first time since 2018. Leader Susan Holt will become the first female premier of the province.
-
'My future has been decided': Blaine Higgs loses seat as party falls in N.B. election
For the first time in 14 years, Blaine Higgs does not have a seat in the New Brunswick legislature.
N.L.
-
77-year-old Kansas man missing after hotel fire in western Newfoundland
Police in western Newfoundland say a 77-year-old man visiting the province from Kansas is missing after a fire at a hotel in Deer Lake, N.L.
-
83-year-old Newfoundland musician still playing sold-out shows, even with memory loss
At 2 p.m. on Thursday, the scene at the Lions Club in Clarenville, N.L., rivalled any rowdy St. John's bar that thumps with music late on a weekend night.
-
Is it pickled fat? Pierogi? Newfoundland 'blobster' expert eyeing weird beach goo
A Newfoundland scientist known for identifying a gelatinous, rancid mass that washed up on the island's shores decades ago is hoping to get his hands on a slice of the strange white globs appearing on the province's beaches.
Northern Ontario
-
After 51 years, GM closes cold-weather testing facility in Kapuskasing. Ont.
After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.
-
Homeless Sudbury man worried he could freeze in a tent
Sudbury's Matthew Klug who has been homeless for six months, says he was ordered by bylaw to tear down a structure he built beside his tent.
-
W5 Investigates
W5 Investigates You donated clothing to needy Canadians. So how did it end up in Africa?
In the first of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5 puts a spotlight on how some of the clothes Canadians donate to charity end up in markets in Africa.
London
-
Child struck while getting off school bus in Grey Bruce
A 13 year old is recovering from minor injuries after being hit by a car. Around 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 11, OPP were called to Highway 10 north of Markdale in Chatsworth Township.
-
Child porn-related charges laid against London man
Earlier this year, police said officers were investigating and used a search warrant on a cell phone with suspected child pornography.
-
City of London looks to crack down on creepy crawlies in low income buildings
"Infestations have been proven to negatively impact one's mental health,” proposals put forward to address bug infestations.
Kitchener
-
Police investigate Kitchener playground fire
Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a Kitchener playground.
-
GPS technology the focus on Day 5 of second-degree murder trial of Erick Buhr
Testimony continued Monday at the trial of Erick Buhr, who has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder of his grandmother, Viola Erb.
-
Two Cambridge men charged after guns were allegedly stolen from a vehicle
Two Cambridge men are facing charges after police say several firearms were stolen from a vehicle on Sunday.
Windsor
-
More Windsor police officers getting body-worn microphones and in-car cameras
The Windsor Police Service is equipping more frontline patrol officers with in-car cameras and body-worn microphones.
-
Beware of social media’s latest trend: The ‘TikTok door-knock challenge’
Windsor police are reminding the community to be aware of a social media trend following recent incidents.
-
Here's where to get potassium iodide pills in Essex
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is continuing potassium iodide (KI) pill distribution in Essex.
Barrie
-
Man linked to series of thefts in Barrie arrested twice in one day
Police say a man who was arrested on Monday in connection with a series of thefts and later released was back in custody hours later.
-
Teen struck by car at school bus stop
A 13-year-old was hit by a car crossing the street to get to his school bus.
-
Expert predicts how long will this warm weather last
It's a summer-like day in mid-October, with temperatures hitting 24C across Simcoe County, feeling more like 27C with the humidex. These daytime highs aren't unheard of, but they are definitely not the norm.
Vancouver
-
Watch live: Dr. Bonnie Henry to give update on B.C. respiratory virus season
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is set to give an update on the upcoming respiratory virus season Tuesday morning.
-
B.C. election results still uncertain as NDP and Conservatives vie for Greens' support
Saturday was a wild election night in B.C., where the dust is still settling and there isn’t a clear winner—but the B.C. Conservatives claimed a historic numbers of seats.
-
Judge doesn't swallow B.C. 'cow share' operator's raw milk case in decades-long fight
A B.C. Supreme Court judge says a longtime raw milk advocate who once tried to circumvent regulations through a "cow share" program can't try to overturn the provincial ban on unpasteurized milk again after two previous unsuccessful attempts.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. election results still uncertain as NDP and Conservatives vie for Greens' support
Saturday was a wild election night in B.C., where the dust is still settling and there isn’t a clear winner—but the B.C. Conservatives claimed a historic numbers of seats.
-
Judge doesn't swallow B.C. 'cow share' operator's raw milk case in decades-long fight
A B.C. Supreme Court judge says a longtime raw milk advocate who once tried to circumvent regulations through a "cow share" program can't try to overturn the provincial ban on unpasteurized milk again after two previous unsuccessful attempts.
-
Death toll from B.C. atmospheric river climbs as driver found dead, another presumed drowned
Mounties on Vancouver Island say one person is dead and another is presumed to have drowned after two vehicles were found submerged in a river following heavy rains that washed out roadways across British Columbia.
Winnipeg
-
Manitoba town working to raise money to repair church
A community in southeastern Manitoba is asking for help as it’s trying to restore a historic church.
-
'Exciting and unexpected': Manitoba community transformed for Bob Odenkirk movie shoot
It was lights, cameras, and action at a beachfront Manitoba community last week as a Hollywood movie shoot took over the town once again.
-
Vaccine clinics to target Winnipeg's underserved population
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is teaming up with Thrive Community Support Circle to help make vaccinations more accessible to the city’s underserved population.
Calgary
-
Colton Crowshoe's killer expected to be sentenced
More than a decade after the death of Colton Crowshoe, the man responsible is expected to be sentenced in a Calgary court on Tuesday.
-
Calgary sees its first taste of winter in October
Morning commuters in Calgary got the first taste of winter driving for the season on Tuesday.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Slippery start to Tuesday after first snowfall of the season
Sidewalks, stairs, and parking lots in Calgary are slick Tuesday morning after mixed precipitation and snow fell on Monday.
Edmonton
-
What's really behind Alberta's 'scrap the cap' ads?
Alberta’s $7-million ad campaign, railing against a proposed federal industrial emissions cap, comes just weeks before a leadership review for Premier Danielle Smith whose party members are hungry for conflict with Ottawa.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Sunnier and a return to average temperatures
Temperatures hovered just slightly below 0 C and the wind chill had it feeling like -6 C for much of Monday in the Edmonton area.
-
Worker dead after Edmonton workplace incident
A worker died on the job in Edmonton on Monday.
Regina
-
EXCLUSIVEEXCLUSIVE Saskatchewan NDP gaining momentum among decided voters, new poll says
The NDP appears to have some momentum in Saskatchewan’s provincial election campaign with less than a week until votes are tallied.
-
Former Sask Party MLA Gary Grewal violated conflict of interest act, commissioner finds
Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.
-
Yorkton Terriers forfeit 3 wins over ineligible player
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Yorkton Terriers have forfeited three wins over the use of an ineligible player.
Saskatoon
-
NDP says leaked audio of Sask. Party candidate reveals party divided on education
The Saskatchewan NDP says signs of internal struggle at the Saskatchewan Party are begging to show after the party leaked audio of an opposition candidate being critical of his party's policies.
-
Saskatoon man develops new card game with a fun, morbid twist — it ends with a funeral
A Saskatoon man is taking his love of card games to new depths — six feet under, to be exact.
-
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE Saskatchewan NDP gaining momentum among decided voters, new poll says
The NDP appears to have some momentum in Saskatchewan’s provincial election campaign with less than a week until votes are tallied.
