Northern Ontario teen recovering in hospital after being attacked; ex-boyfriend charged with attempted murder
**WARNING - This article contains graphic details of intimate partner violence and may be upsetting to some readers
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.
Around 120 people gathered in Cobalt, Ont., for a candlelight vigil in honour of a 16-teen-year old girl who is recovering from a vicious attack. Nov. 10, 2024 (Charlie Angus)
Kaylie Smith was getting off the bus at the intersection of Upper Helen Street and Prospect Avenue in Cobalt around 6 p.m. Nov. 3 when her ex-boyfriend allegedly hit her with his car before getting out and attacking her with a sword, Ontario Provincial Police said.
Her left hand was severed in the attack.
Phillip Rivard Gagnon, 18, allegedly fled the scene in his vehicle and was arrested on Algonquin Drive in the Haileybury area of Temiskaming Shores shortly after.
Gagnon was serving a conditional sentence when he was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons possession.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Police are calling the attack a case of intimate partner violence.
"The Town of Cobalt came out tonight in a beautiful display of love for Kaylie Smith," Angus said in a social media post.
Kaylie Smith, 16, is in hospital in Ottawa after suffering a brutal attack on Nov. 3 in Cobalt, Ont. (Paige Smith)
"Horrific violence has taken place, but now is the time for solidarity, community and healing. We light candles to tell darkness that it has no dominion over us."
An online fundraising campaign has raised more than $94,000 in one week.
The money raised will help support her family, cover any legal fees or anything else she might need during her recovery.
Smith is awake and stable in hospital in Ottawa.
CTV News is naming the victim at the request of her family.
Kaylie Smith, 16, is in hospital in Ottawa after suffering a brutal attack on Nov. 3 in Cobalt, Ont. (Paige Smith)
Gagnon remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 12 in Haileybury.
None of the charges laid against him on Nov. 3 have been proven in court.
A protest is planned for outside the courthouse Tuesday morning calling for the judge to deny bail for the accused.
Candlelight vigil held for Kaylie Smith, 16, near where she was viciously attacked on Nov. 3. Nov. 10, 2024 (Sue Nielsen)
Candlelight vigil held for Kaylie Smith, 16, near where she was viciously attacked on Nov. 3. Nov. 10, 2024 (Sue Nielsen)
Candlelight vigil held for Kaylie Smith, 16, near where she was viciously attacked on Nov. 3. Nov. 10, 2024 (Sue Nielsen)
Candlelight vigil held for Kaylie Smith, 16, near where she was viciously attacked on Nov. 3. Nov. 10, 2024 (Sue Nielsen)
Candlelight vigil held for Kaylie Smith, 16, near where she was viciously attacked on Nov. 3. Nov. 10, 2024 (Sue Nielsen)
Help is available
Confidential and free support is available for people experiencing violence. In an emergency, call 911.
- Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511
- Fem'aide Helpline 1-877-336-2433
- Talk4Healing for Indigenous women 1-855-554-4325
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.
Kingston, Ont. doctor in 'disbelief' after being ordered to repay $600K for pandemic vaccination payments
An Ontario health tribunal has ordered a Kingston, Ont. doctor to repay over $600,000 to the Ontario government for improperly billing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic.
Three climbers from the U.S. and Canada are missing on New Zealand's highest peak
Three mountain climbers from the U.S. and Canada are missing after they failed to return from a planned ascent of New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki, authorities said Tuesday.
Motivated by obsession: Canadians accused in botched California murder plot in police custody
Two Canadians are in police custody in Monterey County, California, after a triple stabbing police say was motivated by a B.C. man's obsession with a woman he played video games with online.
Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be 'HELL TO PAY'
President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office there will be “HELL TO PAY."
Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms begin, study says
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory centre of their brain shrinks and beta amyloid and tau may appear — all of this occurring as early as a person’s 40s and 50s, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.
More RCMP and CBSA ‘human resources’ destined for border, Public Safety Minister LeBlanc says
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will 'absolutely' be adding more Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP ‘human resources’ at the border.