Nearly one year later, families waiting for justice after deadly Old Montreal fire
It's almost been one year since a fire ripped through a heritage building in Old Montreal, killing seven people.
The tragic anniversary is on Saturday and the fire has raised a lot of unanswered questions and is the subject of several lawsuits as families continue to look for answers.
The building on Place d'Youville is now boarded up and under repair.
Still, there is very little progress in the police investigation since the fire broke out on March 16, 2023, killing Dania Zafar, 31, and six others.
"I'm not impressed by that. I'm not impressed," said Zafar's father, Zafar Mahmood.
Montreal police have said the fire was criminally set. Insp. David Shane said they did arrest someone but no charges have been laid.
"We really need to be patient because as criminal investigators, we cannot sacrifice time for quality of investigation. We won't get two chances," Shane told CTV News.
He said the investigation is still ongoing and wants to assure families that no stone is left unturned.
"We understand that it's a long time for the victims. We really do. We really feel for them," he said.
The building housed illegal short-term rentals. Shane cannot confirm if any charges will be brought against the building's owner.
Nearly one year after the deadly fire in Old Montreal, no charges have been laid as victims' families wait for justice.
One of the victim's fathers said his daughter was trapped inside a unit with no windows and others reported no fire alarms.
"All the possible infractions from the Criminal Code are on the table. So definitely arson, homicide, but also criminal neglect," he said.
Shortly after the deadly fire, Montreal's squad to crack down on these types of rentals was launched. Since then, three investigators have inspected 400 units and handed out 42 tickets.
The city says it wants to accelerate the work but is not planning on expanding the pilot project to other boroughs.
"We have to increase our collaboration with the Government of Quebec and after that, we'll see," said Benoit Dorais, a member of the city's executive committee.
But for Mahmood, his life will never be the same.
"We miss every inch of her. Her smiles, Her caring attitude," he said
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.