Northern Dark | True Canadian Crime

Northern Dark | True Canadian Crime

by Northern Dark Podcast

Season 1

ND EP:10- The École Polytechnique Massacre

On December 6, 1989, a gunman entered Montreal’s École Polytechnique and opened fire, targeting women in a brutal attack that shook Canada to its core. Fourteen women lost their lives, and countless others were forever changed. This episode revisits the harrowing events of that day, the survivors’ stories, and the lasting impact on Canadian society — from gun control reforms to the fight for gender equality. Northern Dark examines the tragedy not only as one of Canada’s darkest crimes, but as a turning point in the nation’s history: The École Polytechnique Massacre (Montreal Massacre). Episode Notes CBC News – “École Polytechnique massacre: 30 years later, the wounds remain” Hazlitt – “Marc Lépine’s War on Women” Globe and Mail – Archives on the December 6, 1989 Montreal Massacre Maclean’s – “The Day Canada Changed Forever” Montreal Gazette – Coverage and survivor stories from Dec. 1989 to present Government of Canada – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Social Media Follow Northern Dark on X and YouTube

ND EP: 9 - Christine Jessop Murder: How DNA Freed Paul Morin

In 1984, nine-year-old Christine Jessop was abducted and murdered in Queensville, Ontario. Her neighbor, Paul Morin, was wrongfully convicted based on faulty forensic evidence. Nearly a decade later, DNA testing proved his innocence and changed the course of Canadian justice. This episode of Northern Dark examines how investigators got it wrong, the devastating impact on Morin’s life, and how new science exposed the truth. Sources & References CBC News – Christine Jessop case: DNA clears Morin, points to another suspect https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/christine-jessop-case-dna-1.5764855 The Globe and Mail – Paul Morin acquitted of murder after DNA evidence (Archived link) https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/paul-morin-dna/article574861 Toronto Star – Ontario man wrongly convicted in Jessop case to receive compensation https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/paul-morin-receives-compensation-in-jessop-wrongful-conviction/article_28d0.html Innocence Canada – Case Files: Paul Morin https://www.innocencecanada.com/exonerations/paul-morin National Post – The Christine Jessop case and the failure of forensic science https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/christine-jessop-case-failure-of-forensic-science Social Media Follow Northern Dark on X and YouTube

ND EP: 8 - The Murder of Ashlee Shingoose

The Murder of Ashlee Shingoose On March 11, 2022, twenty-nine-year-old Ashlee Shingoose went missing in Winnipeg. For nearly three years she was known only as Buffalo Woman—until DNA confirmed her identity. This episode follows her story, her family’s grief, and the fight to bring her home amid the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Episode Notes This episode draws on reporting from: Wikipedia – 2022 Winnipeg serial killings CBC News – Timeline of Jeremy Skibicki case APTN News – “It’s a very hard thing”: Family of Ashlee Shingoose have their day in court APTN News – Court to hear from Ashlee Shingoose’s family a year after her killer convicted APTN News – “It was a happy cry”: Parents of Ashlee Shingoose express relief after identification APTN News – Buffalo Woman identified as Ashlee Shingoose APTN News – “She was always a loving person”: Parents of Ashlee Shingoose share their grief APTN News – Police believe Ashlee Shingoose’s remains in Brady Road landfill The Globe and Mail – Victim impact hearing for Ashlee Shingoose CNN – Canada Indigenous women killed, man charged Further Resources Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) https://www.nwac.ca/ MMIWG2S+ Resources and Support (Government of Canada) https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1590521050557/1590521098343 Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7 support for Indigenous peoples in Canada) Call 1-855-242-3310 or connect via online chat: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

ND EP: 7 - The Disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan

On the morning of May 2, 2025, in the rural community of Lansdowne Station, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack vanished near their home. What began as a frantic local search quickly escalated into one of the largest missing persons investigations in Nova Scotia’s history. This episode examines the first hours of the disappearance, the extensive search efforts, the family’s background, and the developments that followed — including surveillance footage, RCMP updates, and calls for a public inquiry. The case remains unsolved. The Province of Nova Scotia is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the safe return of Lilly and Jack, or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Episode Notes If you have any information about the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan, please contact the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Follow US Follow us on X and YouTube at @NorthernDarkTCC. Please rate and review Northern Dark: True Canadian Crime on Apple and Spotify, and share the podcast to help keep these cases in the public eye. Resources & Sources CTV News – Three months since their disappearance, still no new information on Lilly and Jack https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/three-months-later-little-information-on-missing-ns-children CTV News – RCMP reviewing thousands of video files as investigation continues https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/missing-ns-children-rcmp-reviewing-5000-video-files-as-intensive-investigation-continues CTV News – Nova Scotia offers cash reward for information https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/nova-scotia-offering-cash-reward-for-information-about-missing-children Newsweek – Grandmother calls for public inquiry into disappearance of the children https://www.newsweek.com/lilly-jack-sullivan-update-grandma-calls-inquiry-missing-kids-2112520 The Guardian – Canadian police scale back search after six days, amid low odds of finding the children alive https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/canada-missing-children-nova-scotia People – Siblings vanish; police receive hundreds of tips https://people.com/siblings-vanish-from-home-police-received-hundreds-of-tips-11735640 Wikipedia – Disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Lilly_and_Jack_Sullivan

ND EP: 6 - Thirteen Hours of Terror: Nova Scotia Mass Shooting

On April 18–19, 2020, the quiet community of Portapique, Nova Scotia, became the epicenter of a thirteen-hour rampage that claimed 22 lives across multiple towns. Disguised as a police officer and driving a replica RCMP cruiser, Gabriel Wortman used deception and violence to evade capture, leaving a devastating trail of destruction through rural Nova Scotia. In this episode, we break down the confirmed facts — the victims, the timeline, the police response, and the aftermath — drawing on official reports and verified news sources. We also examine public criticism of the RCMP’s handling of the crisis, the federal response, and the memorials honoring those lost. Northern Dark: True Canadian Crime exists to bring light to unsolved cases and events that have left a deep mark on Canadian communities. Social Media Follow us on X: @NorthernDarkTCC Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/NorthernDark Sources Used: Wikipedia – 2020 Nova Scotia attacks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Nova_Scotia_attacks CBC News – RCMP release new details and timeline of Nova Scotia gunman’s rampage https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/rcmp-new-details-timeline-nova-scotia-manhunt-1.5541561 The Signal – Demolition of downtown Dartmouth building welcomed as part of healing process https://signalhfx.ca/demolition-of-downtown-dartmouth-building-welcomed-as-part-of-healing-process/ Global News – Court docs reveal more about Nova Scotia gunman’s mindset https://globalnews.ca/news/7348914/nova-scotia-shooting-gunman-mindset-court-docs/ Global News – Growing criticism over how RCMP warned public about killer https://globalnews.ca/video/6850607/growing-criticism-over-how-nova-scotia-rcmp-warned-public-about-killer The Guardian – Friends and family pay tribute to Nova Scotia victims https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/nova-scotia-shooting-friends-family-pay-tribute-victims CBC News – Permanent memorial to Nova Scotia mass killing victims in Portapique https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/permanent-memorial-to-ns-mass-killing-victims-portapique-1.5581032 CTV News – Proposed class action lawsuit filed against NS mass shooter’s estate https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/proposed-class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-ns-mass-shooters-estate-on-behalf-of-families/

ND EP: 5 - The Murder of Ramona Wilson

Sixteen-year-old Ramona Wilson never made it to her friend’s graduation dance. Ten months later, her remains were discovered in the woods behind the Smithers airport — the same area her mother had begged police to search. In this episode, we walk through Ramona’s final day, the delayed investigation, and the legacy her family has built in the decades since. Her name now echoes among hundreds of Indigenous women and girls lost along Highway 16. This is not just one unsolved case — it's a reflection of a national crisis. And Ramona’s story deserves to be heard. 📞 If you have information about this case: Smithers RCMP Detachment: 250‑847‑3233 North District Major Crime Unit: 250‑561‑3176 Crime Stoppers (anonymous tip): 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477) 🕯️ Episode Sources: CBC Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women project The Hue and Cry: Ramona Wilson profile Hazlitt: “The Death and Afterlife of Ramona Wilson” Al Jazeera: “If she was white, she would still be here” National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls testimony 🔔 Stay Connected 🔗 Follow us on X: @NorthernDarkTCC 💬 Rate, review, and share this episode 💻 Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/northerndarkpodcast 🎙️ New episodes every week

ND EP: 4 - The Vanishing of the Jack Family

Episode 4: The Vanishing of the Jack Family August 2nd, 1989 — Prince George, British Columbia A young Indigenous family of four accepts a late-night job offer from a mysterious stranger. Hours later, they vanish without a trace. No witnesses. No arrests. Thirty-five years later, their disappearance remains one of the most haunting unsolved cases in Canadian history. In this episode, we follow the final hours of Ronnie, Doreen, Russell, and Ryan Jack — and examine the search, the anonymous phone tip, the ongoing RCMP investigation, and the painful legacy left behind. 📚 Sources used in this episode The Province (Aug. 13, 1989) – “Vanishing Act” Prince George Citizen (April 18, 1995) – “Disappearance Still Mystery” Prince George Citizen (July 25, 2024) – “Serious Crime Unit continues investigation…” CBC News – “Missing Jack family: Age-progressed photos released” The Strand – “The Vanishing Jack Family” Medium – “The Family That Vanished” by @reallyhorrifying Medium – “The Night an Entire Family Disappeared” by Dani Bujold Lake District News (Aug. 30, 1989) – “No clues in search…” Burns Lake Lakes District News – Interview with Mabel Jack Omineca Express (Aug. 2, 2018) – “29th anniversary of disappearance” People.com – “Jack Family Vanished After Job Offer…” Lake District News (Jan. 1996) – “Caller hints at fate of Jack family” 📞 Know something? If you have any information about the Jack family’s disappearance: 📂 RCMP File Number: 1989-25284 📞 Prince George RCMP: 250‑561‑3300 📞 Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1‑800‑222‑TIPS 🌐 Visit: canadasmissing.ca 💰 Support the podcast If you’d like to support our independent podcast: ☕ coff.ee/NorthernDarkPodcast

ND EP: 3 - Quadeville: Summer of Fear

A peaceful village in Ontario is shaken by horror in June 2025. When a young child is found brutally assaulted in the woods near Quadeville, a town of just 200 people, the community rallies in grief, outrage, and determination. In this episode, we trace the disturbing events of June 23, 2025, the urgent police response, and the extraordinary courage of a child survivor. We also explore the aftermath — from a packed town hall to province-wide fear — and what’s next for justice in a case that has rocked rural Ontario. 🔗 Show Notes & Resources 📰 News Articles Referenced CBC News “‘We are shaken’: Ontario village rallies after child assaulted in the woods” 📅 July 3, 2025 🔗 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/quadeville-ontario-child-assault-investigation-1.7243505 Toronto Sun “OPP say child was assaulted in ‘isolated’ area in Quadeville, Ontario” 📅 July 2, 2025 🔗 https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/police-investigate-child-assault-in-quadeville Toronto Sun “HUNTER: Teen accused of cutting girl to pieces was ‘quiet, awkward’” 📅 July 17, 2025 🔗 https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/hunter-teen-accused-of-cutting-girl-to-pieces-was-quiet-awkward – Provides chilling context on the accused, including quotes from locals. The Globe and Mail “Small-town horror: Police search for suspect in child assault in rural Ontario” 📅 July 4, 2025 🔗 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-opp-investigating-quadeville-child-assault iASK.ca “Accused in Quadeville alleged sexual assault appears in Pembroke court” 📅 July 17, 2025 🔗 https://www.iask.ca/news/41d2bf45f14f3ed17bb1f7c01fe0cf77/accused-in-quadeville-alleged-sexual-assault-appears-in-pembroke-court 🚨 Police Contact Information Ontario Provincial Police – Killaloe Detachment 📞 1-888-310-1122 | 🌐 www.opp.ca Crime Stoppers (Anonymous Tips) 📞 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) | 🌐 www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca 📞 Ontario Victim Support Line: 1‑888‑579‑2888(Open 24/7 for confidential emotional support and referrals to local services) 💛 GoFundMe Page “Help a Young Survivor Heal – Quadeville Support Fund” 🔗 https://gofund.me/9dba9adb

ND EP: 2 - The Disappearance of Nicole Morin

She was eight years old. On a summer morning in 1985, she left her 20th-floor apartment to go swimming—and vanished without a trace. In this episode, we retrace the biggest missing-child investigation in Toronto’s history, the leads it spawned, and the legacy it left behind. 🔗 Show Notes & Resources 📞 How to Share Tips If you have any information—no matter how small—please consider reaching out: 🚨 Toronto Police Service Non-emergency line: 416-808-7400 🔍 Crime Stoppers Greater Toronto Anonymous tip line: 416-222-TIPS (8477) Submit online: torontocss.org Thank you for keeping Nicole’s story alive. Every tip matters. 🕯️ Resources Used 📰 Toronto.com cold-case review: toronto.com/news/crime/ontario-cold-case-nicole-morin-vanishes-on-way-to-summer-swim/article_b40f5b41-752b-5d2a-a7b6-95bdf5217d92.html 📺 CityNews 2022 reinvestigation: toronto.citynews.ca/2022/07/05/nicole-morin-etobicoke-cold-case/ ⏳ CityNews 35th-anniversary feature: toronto.citynews.ca/2020/07/30/35-years-later-disappearance-of-nicole-morin-remains-a-mystery/ 🚜 YorkRegion.com on excavations & suspect reviews: – …search-for-remains-of-nicole-morin-possible-links-to-christine-jessop-case/article_e08ca4ea-b608-5cfe-9528-2ab2425bab20.html – …was-jessop-killer-calvin-hoover-involved-in-nicole-morins-disappearance/article_fe07daec-0e0f-5ea6-a3f5-9f9d5d09645e.html 📚 Wikipedia overview: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Nicole_Morin

ND EP: 1 – The Danforth Shooting

On July 22, 2018, a warm summer night in Toronto’s Greektown was shattered by one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history. In this premiere episode of Northern Dark, we examine the events of that night, the class-action lawsuit that followed, and the incredible legacy left by the victims’ families — from national advocacy to life-changing community initiatives. 📚 Primary News Sources CBC News – Lawsuit Certification (2025) Survivors of Toronto's Danforth shooting get green light on lawsuit against gunmaker Published June 23, 2025 🔹 Source for legal updates, Smith & Wesson lawsuit, and quotes from the court CBC News – Five-Year Anniversary Coverage (2023) Memorial service on Saturday marks five years since Danforth Shooting Published July 21, 2023 🔹 Source for survivor quotes, memorial event, and victim impact Beach Metro Community News [Fifth Anniversary article excerpted in full by you] 🔹 Provided quotes from survivors and family members, information about DFSC Just Do Kindness Foundation (Julianna Kozis) https://www.jdkfoundation.ca , https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44933176🔹 Source for community initiatives in Julianna’s memory and other news Reese Fallon Memorial Scholarship at McMaster University https://alumni.mcmaster.ca/s/1439/ifundmac/project.aspx?sid=1439&gid=1&pgid=7470&cid=13445 🔹 Source for scholarship info and Reese’s legacy 🧠 Mental Health Support in Canada If you or someone you know is struggling, you're not alone. These organizations offer support across Canada: Talk Suicide Canada (24/7 support) 💬 https://talksuicide.ca 📞 Call or text 988 Wellness Together Canada (mental health & substance use support) 💬 https://www.wellnesstogether.ca Kids Help Phone (for youth across Canada) 💬 https://kidshelpphone.ca 📱 Text CONNECT to 686868

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