Bear spray used in Oshawa school fight: Cops
· Toronto Sun
A male teen is facing charges after he’s alleged to have sprayed another youth with bear spray at a school in Oshawa.
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Durham cops say on Feb. 26 at around 11:45 a.m., they responded to an assault call at Grove School on Simcoe St. S.
Two male youths were involved in a physical altercation when one sprayed the other with bear spray, cops said.
Both the suspect and victim were treated for minor injuries and contamination from the bear spray while students and staff were evacuated from the school as a result of spray contamination.
A 17-year-old male from Whitby is charged with assault with a weapon, and administer noxious substance.
BEAR SPRAY, PART TWO
Meanwhile, Hamilton Police are advising “of a concerning increase in youth-related violent incidents, including a rise in the misuse of bear spray during altercations.”
Over the past several months, police say officers have responded to a number of incidents involving young persons engaged in assaults, group conflicts, and weapons-related offences.
Cops are concerned about the growing trend of youth carrying and deploying bear spray in disputes. Since March 3, police have responded to five incidents, with three youths facing charges.
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Police say bear spray-related incidents have steadily increased each year between 2021 and 2025, representing a 115% rise over the past five years, with youth aged 10 to 19 account for approximately 63% of identified offenders.
The most frequently reported offence involving bear spray is assault with a weapon.
In response to this trend, police in Hamilton have launched Project Breathe Easy, a targeted initiative aimed at reducing bear spray-related violence in the community.
The program includes increased enforcement and high-visibility patrols in identified hot-spot areas, proactive engagement with youth, compliance checks at retailers selling bear spray to ensure adherence to applicable legislation, and responsible sales practices and ongoing monitoring and intelligence-led response to emerging concerns.
“We don’t see a lot of bears walking around Hamilton. The reality is, we don’t have a bear problem — we have a youth safety problem that needs to be addressed,” Chief Frank Bergen said in a statement.
“We’re not here to alarm families — we’re here to support them. At the same time, we are taking enforcement action where necessary to keep our community safe.”
In addition to enforcement efforts, police are hosting a series of community information sessions aimed at parents and caregivers on April 14, 16, 21 and May 12.
“These sessions are about education, prevention, and accountability,” added Inspector Frank Miscione in a statement.
“We want parents to feel informed and supported, and we want youth to understand there are real consequences when weapons are brought into conflicts.”