Timeline: Explosion in downtown Wheatley, Ont.
A timeline of events leading up to an explosion that levelled a building in downtown Wheatley, Ont.
June 3 – State of emergency declared after hazmat situation in downtown Wheatley
June 4 – Ontario’s hazmat team called to state of emergency in Wheatley
June 10 – Wheatley remains under a state of emergency
June 17 – Wheatley enters second week under state of emergency
June 18 – Wheatley prepares to re-open following state of emergency
June 28 – State of Emergency lifted in Wheatley
July 19 – Downtown Wheatley evacuated again after hazardous gas detected
July 20 – Second State of Emergency declared in Wheatley
July 22 – Evacuated Wheatley residents and business owners expected to return to properties today
Aug. 4 – Province launches investigation into Wheatley gas detection
Aug. 26 - Widespread damage after Wheatley, Ont. explosion
Aug. 27 – Community reacts to Wheatley, Ont. explosion
Aug. 27 – Chatham-Kent fire chief confirms another explosion could happen in Wheatley, Ont.
Aug. 27 – Chatham-Kent officials call for action plan from province following explosion
Aug. 28 – Search for Wheatley gas leak continues
Aug. 30 – Help available for Wheatley residents affected by explosion
Aug. 31 – 'Significant movement' made in preparing to find source of Wheatley explosion
Sept. 1 – Wheatley residents create ‘Wheatley Strong’ t-shirts to aid in fundraising efforts
Sept. 1 – No guarantee and no timeline; Wheatley officials update gas explosion investigation and evacuation
Sept. 3 – Windsor law firm planning to file class action suit for those affected by Wheatley explosion
Sept. 4 - Evacuated Wheatley residents won’t be back in homes next week
Sept. 7 - Officials seek cause of Wheatley explosion as debris clean up continues
Sept. 10 - Wheatley fish fry aims to raise funds for evicted residents
Sept. 12 - 'It's what we do': Wheatley residents come out in droves to support explosion rebuild
Sept. 13 - Municipality asks Wheatley residents to 'not spread gossip on social media'
Sept. 14 - Leamington residents living near Wheatley explosion site encouraged to prepare emergency kits
Sept. 15 - 'This is a cautionary tale': Two GTA MPP’s demand action for Wheatley residents
Sept. 20 - Municipality reaches deal with province to move Wheatley explosion investigation forward
Sept. 21 - Premier Doug Ford visits Wheatley explosion area
Sept. 22 - Safety sake cited for Ford’s low-key explosion site visit
Sept. 25 - Province providing up to $2M for Wheatley following devastating explosion
Oct. 1 - Wheatley residents might be evacuated for months after explosion
Oct. 8 - Monitoring equipment detects gas at scene of previous Wheatley explosion
Nov. 1 - Chatham-Kent accepting applications for Wheatley business recovery program following explosion
Nov. 23 - Another gas release detected in evacuation zone of Wheatley explosion
Dec. 12 - Demolition of downtown Wheatley buildings near explosion site almost complete
Dec. 23 - Work in Wheatley, Ont. on pause after second well discovered
Jan. 22 - New Wheatley explosion video released
Feb. 5 - Wheatley residents face longer displacement
Feb. 7 - Wheatley crews to install vapour probes and water monitoring wells
Mar. 10 - Investigation begins into potential fourth well in Wheatley
Mar. 14 - Work to find source of gas leak continues in Wheatley
Mar. 22 - Next step in Wheatley investigation work to begin this week
Mar. 29 - Drilling to begin at evacuation site of Wheatley explosion
Mar. 30 - Relocating Wheatley’s core? A lot riding on what more drilling reveals
April 10 - Evacuation zone in Wheatley, Ont. to be reduced following August 2021 explosion
April 13 - Emotional return home for Wheatley residents
April 26 - Wheatley residents able to return to their properties have some utilities restored
May 2 - Province to provide additional $3.9 million for downtown Wheatley businesses
May 3 - Crews to plug gas well in downtown Wheatley evacuation area
May 10 - Wheatley well remediation to continue until end of June
May 20 - Evacuation zone reduced at Wheatley explosion site
May 24 - Plans underway for further investigation, road reopening in Wheatley
May 28 - Wheatley evacuation zone to be reduced as of Monday
May 31 - Wheatley emergency site reduction complete, new boundaries outlined
June 16 - Emergency response phase of Wheatley explosion to close after 294 days
July 7 - Gas release reported near former Wheatley explosion site
Aug. 2 - Crews in Wheatley resume work on pressure relief well
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.