Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
A colleague of Michael Kovrig says that he's "thrilled" to hear that the Canadian is finally home after being detained in China for more than 1,000 days.
"It's hard to describe but I'm just so thrilled for him and his family more than anybody else," Praveen Madhiraju told CTV News Channel on Saturday. "This has been a long time coming and we're just thrilled for this next chapter."
Kovrig and fellow Canadian Michael Spavor both landed at Calgary International Airport early Saturday morning. Later that afternoon, Kovrig arrived in Toronto, greeted by his wife and sister on the tarmac at Pearson Airport. He briefly spoke to reporters at the scene, thanking them for their support.
"It's fantastic to be back home in Canada," Kovrig told reporters. "I'm immensely grateful for everybody who worked so hard to bring both of us back home."
Since December 2018, the two men had been detained while facing espionage charges, which came not long after Canadian authorities -- responding to an extradition request from the U.S. -- arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver just days prior.
While China has consistently denied that the cases were in any way connected, a B.C. judge discharged the extradition matter against Meng on Friday after U.S. Justice Department officials reached a deal to resolve the criminal charges against her, allowing Meng to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement and leave Canada, under certain terms.
The same day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the two Michaels were on a flight back to Canada.
Madhiraju worked with Kovrig at Crisis Group, an international foreign policy think tank. Kovrig, an ex-diplomat, had been working in China as the group's Northeast Asia advisor before his arrest.
"All of our staff has been focused on Michael's release in this day since December 2018, more than 1,000 days," Madhiraju said.
"A day didn't go by since his detention that a large portion of our staff hadn't thought about him."
Crisis Group also released a statement on Saturday, applauding the efforts of Canadian diplomats to secure his release and expressing relief that the Chinese government has "righted this wrong."
"Michael, we're so proud of you. We're so proud to have you as part of the Crisis Group family. You're an inspiration to all of us. Welcome home," the group said.
Madhiraju says Kovrig "showed the best of himself" during his time in detention.
"Throughout his time, he stayed very focused on discipline, on keeping himself mentally and physically fit. And out of that came a lot of grace and humility and humanity and concern and care for others," he said.
"I think that will tell you more about Michael than anything else I can tell you."
Former bandmates of Kovrig released a music video last month for a song titled "The Plane to Toronto" in anticipation of their former frontman's return to Canadian soil, a situation that has now played out.
"Finally, the purpose of this song is being fulfilled," band member Balazs Sarkadi told CTV News on Saturday.
Michael Purity, who went to college with Spavor, was so elated to hear the news of his friend's release he started dancing in celebration.
"I'm just so grateful to hear that justice is finally being served and we have two Michaels on their way back," he said in an interview with CTV News on Friday.
"He deserves a hug -- not just from Justin Trudeau," Matt Burgener, another friend of Spavor's, told CTV News, referring to the prime minister greeting the released men with an embrace on the Calgary airport tarmac Friday night.
"I hope the guy never has to buy another beer in Canada in his life," Burgener added.
Purity said Spavor's positive attitude likely helped him persevere through his detention.
"I think if there was a man that could pull it off and come out with a smile on his face and a gentle attitude about life, I think that might be Michael Spavor," he told CTV News Channel on Saturday.
Purity revealed that Spavor, who has taught English in North Korea and is one of few Westerners to have actually met Kim Jong-Un, was also briefly a character on one of the country's TV sitcoms.
"It takes a special kind of man," Purity said. "He's just a man with a big smile and a big heart, and that's the truth about him."
He added that the release of Spavor is good news for all Canadians.
"Another man free is a big deal for Canada, so freedom always wins and we just need to keep up the hope and have faith," he said.
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
B.C. conservation officers recently seized a nine-foot-long Burmese python from a home in Chilliwack.
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
The Ontario government is introducing changes to auto-insurance, but some experts say the move is ill-advised.
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Newfoundland’s unique version of the Pine Marten has grown out of its threatened designation.
A Toronto man is out $12,000 after falling victim to a deepfake cryptocurrency scam that appeared to involve Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
It started small with a little pop tab collection to simply raise some money for charity and help someone — but it didn’t take long for word to get out that 10-year-old Jace Weber from Mildmay, Ont. was quickly building up a large supply of aluminum pop tabs.
There’s a group of people in Saskatoon that proudly call themselves dumpster divers, and they’re turning the city’s trash into treasure.
Ontario is facing a larger than anticipated deficit but the Doug Ford government still plans to balance its books before the next provincial election.