Is a Serial Killer Terrorizing A Small Ontario Town?

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In February of 2024, our team received a tip about a series of disappearances in the small town of Smiths Falls, Ontario. All three men knew each other, all had similar habits, and all three vanished without a trace while walking the streets of the town they called home. To date, only one of the three has been found, and there may be another connected case sitting right out in the open. However, police have been cautious about labeling these as connected cases, or even calling it foul play. Is there something strange going on in Smiths Falls, or could these really be unconnected? Welcome back to The Lore Lodge...
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0:00:00 - Cold Open
0:00:23 - Introduction
0:07:27 - Mysterious Prophecy
0:29:02 - The Disappearances
0:41:14 - Connecting the Dots

[@TheLoreLodge]

Use code LORELODGE50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box plus 20% off your next box at bit.ly/4a4j1sj!

[@BxBxProductions]

Factor is like a posh TV/airlines/prison dinner ngl

[@mannman627]

I live about 20 minutes from brant lake in Thurman. Something similar to what happened to tom messick happened to me. About a year ago where I was walking home and listening to music i took my earphones out and heard nothing exept for a hounddog howling in the distance. Ive never in my life been in the woods and heard nothing. I felt like I was being watched. And then I got scared ran for about a 1/2 mile before stopping. I grew up in the woods and ive never heard nothing. My dad worked for the dec at the time of tom messicks disappearance i dont remember if he was one of the searchers. My mom lives in schuylerville but she moved there after drumm dissapeared.

[@mannman627]

I think that theres something in the woods in the adirondacks thats killing people it might be a sasquatch or something different. Three disappearances were all in or near Hamilton county. West Canada Lakes Cedar River and Moose River are all very close to eachother. Hamilton co is the least densely populated area east of the Mississippi. The woods are different compared to southern adk the trees are very dense and you can only see about 20-30 feey would not be difficult for something to live undetected there. Ive seen bears the noise of the woods doesn't stop for them.

[@PsychedUPsych]

Ken Gruno from Otisville Michigan we think he was a victim of Smiley

[@mannman627]

Another interesting thing is how close the west Canada wilderness moose river and cedar river disappearances were west Canada is about 15 miles from moose river and cedar river is in between. The woods up there are very thick and you can only see about 20 to 30ft. I remember my dad telling me about them needing flashlights during the day. All of these were in Hamilton county which is the least populated county east of the Mississippi. My theory is that bigfoot or something else is killing people and most people up here agree. Even bears dont make the noises of the forest stop

[@DDAlexelA]

Within the first 10 seconds I've been asked my gender, mysteriously warned about rivers, kicked out of the Lore Lodge and then welcome right back in. I absolutely love this channel.

[@Transwithhands]

Honestly u shouldn't. It's poor and lazy research for the most part he can't even get long house and first nation culture strait 😂😂

[@Transwithhands]

Inu is the traditional name of the anishinabek of the east coast. Ojibwa is the mispronounciation of anishinabek.

[@Transwithhands]

They all mean first nations. 😅 the French contacted the Dené ppl way before the English got there.

[@DDAlexelA]

@@Transwithhands ew

[@carvuh]

@@Transwithhandsyou can’t even spell

[@mindy5769]

I know you make the comment of many people skipping the history section, but genuinely I love it!! I feel like I've genuinely learned quite a bit, and it shows a respect for the history of the area/land that I feel like is lacking from many people!

[@ProjectV6]

Nah just skip it, we're here for the mystery, quit sucking up.

[@southphillylilly]

@@ProjectV6not all of us . Some of us prefer a textured brain

[@lizhall5538]

Me too!

[@ProjectV6]

@@southphillylilly Nah she's just sucking up to Aiden and it's cringe.

[@mindy5769]

@ProjectV6 dude I don't know you. You don't know me. So don't state my intentions like you do know anything. I was offering support for a portion of the video I like because it's a section I dont want to go away due to asshats like yourself. You can keep right along skipping to the mystery. I will keep listening and learning like I have been.

[@swsos2297]

Please don’t ever get rid of your history segments, you make them so respectful and I truly enjoy being able to learn about the land as well

[@mecahhannah]

Couldn't agree more ❤

[@secretagent5954]

im an attorney and sometimes my boss tells me to send a FOIA request for something.... no matter how carefully you draft it they always come up with some BS response to tell you no. its designed to satiate the public and thats it, if they dont want to produce it theyll find a way not to.

[@ridesq]

I second this!

[@relaxinandchillaxin]

uhh, DUHH??!!!

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

FOIAs are something that only exist in the States, and this is a Canadian case. Unfortunately, our police don't have to tell us anything they don't want to.

[@Janellabelle]

Yea or they'll send the document with half of it redacted

[@terrorizingtheturbin]

As someone who’s had to comply with several FOIA requests, you’re pretty much spot on

[@brianfisher5525]

Not sure why anyone would skip the history element, its my favorite part of every episode and one of distinguishing characteristics that separates this channel from content creators in this genre. Thank you Aidens Squared!

[@Torquesquad]

I love that, "Aidens squared"😊

[@blaznskais2048]

For the historical events, cryptid/myth, and missing 411 videos I like them because they give greater context on the subject matter and area but for videos like these and the earlier smiley face videos I felt like is was mostly irrelevant info and only led to pad the run time. Overall I really like Adien, I find him to be well informed and well spoken. And I really enjoy his long form content. But when I click on an hr long video about MODERN cases I don’t want to hear 30 min of history hundreds of years prior and in no way connected to said case.

[@ChicaG-vg7pj]

Me too!

[@Jeff-jl2xc]

Because I came for a mystery and a captivating story not a history lesson..

[@spyrofrost9158]

Because hearing "white man bad native good" every video is a drag.

[@joleenquack]

As a Canadian, Newfoundland is pronounced differently in different areas of the country, based on local accent/dialect. Where I live, both New-found-land and New-fin-land are common. I don't recommend asking a newfie for a correction, their local accent is so thick its practically a different language.

[@DneilB007]

Fundamentally, there are no vowels after the “fun”. “Noo-fun-lnd”.

[@joleenquack]

@@DneilB007 fair enough.

[@tjrune3432]

So far, I've just pronounced everything by reducing all long and boring stretches of words down to the easiest vowel. They know I'm from away, but I'm still understandable.

[@MegsStJohn]

A a Newfoundlander I've heard it pronounced every variation as Aiden said in the video and other ways by other Newfoundlanders. The most common way I hear is how he says it at 8:57 Also the accent is thick with some, but non existent with others.

[@LilAngelPrincess95]

I've always said New-fun-land Though there was once where I was talking about Newfoundland and Labrador and while talking too fast said "Newfidor"

[@TeaganRainXo]

Thank you for covering these cases. My town is missing these people and we want answers!

[@JiggleTheJamJar]

As an Aussie, hearing your culture shock about the 'illegal weapons' was a culture shock.

[@Kensbev]

There's culture shock about guns even in America, depending on the person. I mentioned to my family once that I wanted to learn to shoot, just for the fun of it. My MIL about keeled over.

[@CaseyBerard-qv6bi]

Sad that Australia is such a tyranny and have no human rights of self defense and a protection of keeping their government in check by the human right to bear arms

[@melsy94]

As a Canadian I was also shocked about the culture shock. The rifles seem like the kinda thing you'd expect, maybe for hunting and/or passed through the family, but heaing the words "your standard AR-15" is like... that's STANDARD?? You just shoot that for fun??

[@Skinfaxi]

​@@melsy94 You don't know what an AR-15 is. Go on, look it up quick so you can say you do.

[@marhawkman303]

@@melsy94 "Srtandard" as in the generic non-customized off-the shelf model.

[@criminalrappergreasygod8886]

Those are the colours in the medicine circle. Yellow, red, black(sometimes blue) and white. It not only represents people with different skin but also directions, elements, plants, seasons etc.

[@myfriendzcallme_E]

You should look into all of the "accidental drownings" in Thunder Bay Ontario. It's been going on for far too long with too many similarities for it to be a mere accident every time. Always just swept under the rug and forgotten about. I honestly hope it gets some attention, nothing about what has been happening sits right with me. Hasn't for many years.

[@rebeccamcguire2798]

thunderbays police stations lazy as hell when it comes to deaths of natives or missing native women and children i belive there currently under a court case for rasist stuff etc

[@rebeccamcguire2798]

and it probably are drowning murders and your not wrong with your feelings

[@missmay713]

Yes! Particularly the ones involving Native Thunder Bay students as discussed in Tanya Talaga's Seven Fallen Feathers. Several are very suspicious and involve a lot of mishandling by law enforcement.

[@freedomfreedom9523]

The same place the two syrians were caught with enough fentynl to kill two million people and trudy was there the exact same day ????? Two weeks after the conservatives voted to stop funding them?????

[@KatMcNamara-fh1nc]

Murder Capital of Canada.

[@S0m35uy]

If someone does not hold a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence, it is illegal to possess any firearm in Canada. Pretty much any AR is essentially prohibited right now, and previously required a Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence. So it’s not that a Lee-Enfield is particularly deadly, though they did drop a lot of Nazis, it’s that the person who had it lacked a PAL.

[@t95kush27]

Ars are not banned. Crusader arms, siberian srv2.. The ar-15 platform was technically banned.. but they just replaced them with Ar180s.. think an m16 vs an ACR. Realistically no difference which is why the ban is actually the dumbest thing ever.. and I voted liberal and even I gotta say they are idiotic.. now canadians have to purchase subpar ARs because all the good brands are banned.. just l9ok up the srv2 and the crusader arms mk2 or the B&T and you will see what I mean.

[@James-zg2nl]

I was about to write this particular comment but knew to check the comments first 🫡 Cheers

[@marysupernova7780]

It makes me smiley, to see that oodles of other people are just as thrilled as I am to have the history segments ❤

[@heather-cz8yk]

Thank you for trying to help us solve a case in Canada. As a Canadian, totally agree there should be way more transparency with police and info after a long time with no case solved. Just helps to hide all the cases not being worked on. Privacy laws should be adjusted to share info with the community to help solve murders!!

[@sokolum79]

I love the history portion of your videos. I’m Dené and Mik’maaq, and I really appreciate that you guys love to talk about history before settlers, before what K12 history books provide. I also love learning about other nations through the videos. BTW, you’re pronouncing Newfoundland correctly.

[@tjrune3432]

It's quite refreshing to hear real history. My first intro to history in the 90s in a Catholic school was ultra racist. To the tune of: ...and so we paid all the [aboriginal folks] for their land and then struggled to build white society. Deprogramming all that is made easier with proper content.

[@Samookely]

@@tjrune3432 its sad how many of our religious institutions got taken over by racist talking heads :( or any form of supremecist ideologies. Trying to have any form of faith nowadays is incredibly hard, when just turning on the news shows you how much harm people have used it to justify

[@3klamarie]

I also love the history portion! I love that he goes into history before settlers arrived. May I ask, are you from or around Nova Scotia? We have Mik’maaq in our family but so much has been lost I can’t find any information on my ancestors. Thanks!

[@sokolum79]

@@3klamarie my Mik’maaq side is from Gesgapegiag in Quebec and New Brunswick.

[@tankgirl6107]

I love the history part too! Your channel was the first thing that got me into makeup as an art form back in the early days of youtube (had only been painting and drawing before then) you're so talented.✂️🖌️🎨👽💜 It's wild seeing you here!

[@kimgadoury4245]

Investigative Journalism Might Actually Still Exist. You're RIGHT. It's about JUST Questioning the information and revealing the curious. As a Canadian, THANK YOU!

[@jackieviolet3375]

I was born in Smith Falls, 60 yrs ago! And there were many sightings when I was about 10 and on,even when I moved away,I still experience weird stuff???!!! There was a UFO flap that happened in Spencerville,Ontario as well,between 1999-2004, but nothing was in the papers!!!! Loved the video!

[@heatherc1563]

Carp too in the 90s i believe

[@Loreweavver]

I appreciate you doing this and more so with the disclaimer. You have so much more credibility than a Netflix True Crime Drama. Never sell out. Well done.

[@therin1340]

As someone who lives near Smiths Falls, I am beyond excited to watch this video. and Smiths Falls has always sketched me out, so there's that

[@annanitschke6727]

As someone from Almonte I agree and have thought so since I was a kid

[@mandyxox]

I’m from Ottawa and I agree with smith falls being sketch! Town has a whole odd vibe all together

[@zer0patiencewithitall]

I’m from Carleton Place and history around Lanark is just so fascinating.

[@konnordvo3384]

Lived in almonte and in perth now, smiths falls always been sketchy. Go there for walmart now tho lol

[@zer0patiencewithitall]

@@konnordvo3384 lol

[@foolsenigma]

Seeing that street described as "a pretty rough neighborhood" is wild, that looks just like the street adjacent to the one i grew up om

[@JustAGuy632]

I thought the same thing lol, I saw the picture and thought, “wow, those houses are pretty big”

[@zacharypeele9290]

As a resident of the inner city here in Newark. Yes I was really shocked when I saw that as a “sketchy” neighborhood haha. Regardless I love Lore Lodge but that made me laugh when I saw that street view.

[@jeezycreezy4220]

That place looked like paradise compared to some of the areas I've called home.

[@bunnyluver2176]

Yeah, Aiden isn't familiar with real sketchy areas obviously 😂

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

A "rough neighbourhood" in rural Ontario is often still pretty nice by most standards. Reference: I grew up in a small, rural Ontario town not far across the border from Detroit in the 80's.

[@42saram42]

I love the history segments and I can't imagine wanting to skip them. Knowing history is so important to inform the present.

[@taylorhoughtonphoto]

I live very close to Smiths Falls and have not heard these stories. Super interesting learning more about the history of the area!

[@angelmartin7310]

Has Smith falls been "culturally enriched" in recent years?

[@taylorhoughtonphoto]

@@angelmartin7310 Not as much as other places in Canada. Unfortunately, it has become a very poor area. I think that may be more of the crime issue, but I am not an expert.

[@taylorhoughtonphoto]

@@angelmartin7310 Also, I am stealing that phrase from you. "Culturally Enriched". What a gentle way to get the point across. Love it!

[@jadehicks3584]

Same! Very sad.

[@lwhager]

Canadian here in a city of over a million people. I’ve literally only met two people with Ring doorbell type security. Only two. Take this to small town Ontario, a town that is struggling with poverty. Welcome back to culture shock, Aiden(s).

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Same, living in a smaller city outside of Toronto. It seems that part of our culture here involves putting a greater value on privacy, as well as possibly just simply feeling safer.

[@nicksaucebjj]

Also a Canadian in a city of over a million, and I don't know many people who don't have Ring doorbell type security.

[@chayjohnson883]

Lots in my city.... tho okanagan seems to attract junkies.

[@JustaYeomanBowman]

But what if i LIVE IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER

[@foolsenigma]

Living on the edge

[@ericfintel3759]

Keep an eye out for a wild farley.

[@Jroc3578]

​@@ericfintel3759BEES!!!

[@jenniferj5324]

The history segment is one of the best parts of your true crime videos.

[@SacredLover21]

Hey OP, thanks for taking the time to make this video. I live in Ottawa, but I have several close friends that live in Smiths Falls, and they always tell me about disappearances and whatnot. It’s scary because I fear for their safety even though they claim they have people who have their backs etc. Drugs are a big problem over there and there are gangs. The town is essentially in poverty and I heard several instances of bodies being found and possibility of serial killers. I’ll be sharing your video to the Smiths Falls group and to my friends who live there. It’s so weird to think about a YT horror video made on a town so close to me, it’s usually videos on US town but so close to me? It gives me goosebumps Thanks for the video!

[@KatMcNamara-fh1nc]

What was really weird was that there was a youngish man in Carleton Place went missing in January 2024. Sadly he was found in the Mississippi River in May. The police said death by misadventure, so case closed. I wondered at the time if it could be a Smiley Face Killer Case.

[@calliebernard9892]

I love being early to these. Feels like a movie premiere with friends

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

From his head all the way down to his aboots. Bravo.

[@ogdenatwood161]

As someone who just graduated with a degree in history, they are some of the best parts

[@joasok3642]

Dont lie

[@ogdenatwood161]

@@joasok3642 lie about which part?

[@Kyarareads]

I agree while I don't have this degree it's a pleasant addition to each video learned a lot from these

[@britt0242]

I like that you put in the part about looking out for one another, no matter what kind of stuff you’re doing. All it takes is a split second judgement of, “Oh, my friend will be alright,” and then suddenly you’re getting one of the worst phone calls of your life. Stay safe out there everyone.

[@meghaffer]

I'm totally judging the people who skip the history segments

[@cantsneedgaming4591]

I had this on in the back ground and almost forgot what it was about cause he went on some dumb ass rant about indians

[@CamBoone]

So stoked the history segment is back! Y’all should put out compilation videos of the history segments for each month or something… I bet they’d perform well & ya already have em filmed and edited!

[@CamBoone]

@YerDaddY. o rly?

[@Desti88-nothitlerrelated]

Just fyi, the garland and enfield are not illegal weapons in Canada. They are non restricted firearms that are legal to have with a PAL (possession and acquisition license) The AR is recently (2022 I think) the AR is blacklisted. But even before that was a restricted firearm and had a lot more rules and restrictions.

[@kathryncumberland]

For the record, I always listen to and appreciate the history segments. I find them to be very well-researched, interesting, and informative. 😊

[@B-Nice]

Lore Lads can now officially say they are down with O.P.P. 👍

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Yeah you know me! 🤣

[@robertmiller2831]

Somebody finally said it. Every time I hear him say OPP, the song starts in my head.

[@ethanfleisher1910]

It literally plays in my head every time it's mentioned. I can actually hear the shitty subwoofers like it was yesterday

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

@@ethanfleisher1910 Does any song from that era work without shitty subwoofers?

[@arkhamerp.l.6256]

I love those history segments! Not enough people know or talk about native american history like that

[@kimberlycockram1894]

Agree. Feels unique to this channel

[@ginamonty27273]

I live near Smith Falls and I think it’s really cool that you covered this story. I love your work.

[@OceanJobe]

HEY! It's the Cree chick*from Ontario! Way to go for covering this, and tysm for all your hard work ❤️

[@ambertomoakitu4408]

i LOVE the history part of these videos and as a Diné/Comanche, genuinely feel like you're doing Creator's work adding them to the beginning of these very gruesome stories. true crime is not a very healthy itch to scratch, at least in terms of entertainment, so to me it feels very much like the history and true land acknowledgement introductions balance that out. the 'skippers' are most likely a hard-to-educate community of people anyways so i'm happy to see other people enjoying those sections. even though i'm native to the southwest, i've really learned A LOT about the history of wisconsin where i live now and other tribal nations! i consider that extremely valuable information especially since Indigenous people here are not some homogenous culture, but have extreme variation in history and practices. "some of the native sources i read" is such a rare and appreciated phrase to hear from a historian that i have to give you credit where it's due. thank you!

[@nolanwilson3272]

High five. I'm part native from Texas. I love the native lore. But I'm a history junkie too.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Sending you my care and respect. I am not Indigenous, but my adopted brother is; he's a direct descendant of the people discussed in this video, actually. Learning about his heritage and his people's belief system helped him survive and recover from a near-fatal car accident when we were teens, and now he's an Elder living up north, and passing on everything he's learned since to other Indigenous kids who need that kind of support and wisdom in their lives. I don't know how many times he and I have had conversations that sounded just like the story of the fires told in this video, of how we as humans need to lose out materialist lifestyles and divisions along lines of race, gender, religion, sexuality, etc. if we're going to survive as a species, because if we stay on our current path, we're doomed. How anyone *can't* understand that at this point in history is beyond me.

[@TheWayofTruthTarot]

I just wanted to say I loved this I’m actually from Smith Falls and have friends who knew all 3 men. You brought mad respect the way you told this account and I loved the history part ! Smiths Falls has another unsolved murders which is now a cold case, her name was Debbie Himmelman. It’s been 20yrs since her murder and NOTHING has brought any leads in the case. SF has more than its share of dark stuff happening in the 80’s they called Smiths FallsLittle Chicago because of all unsolved crimes. During that Hells Angels and Outlaws ran that town. I pray my community gets the closure we all deserve. Thanks for putting out this video!

[@emmythorn]

The history segments r the main reason I subbed! I love them don't ever get rid of them

[@braelenslife]

As a local, I appreciate this video. Watched it when it dropped and rewatching now. Very good video and cool to see knowing / hearing about it locally already

[@VictoryOTP_]

Canadian gun owner here: none of those firearms are necessarily illegal to own in canada. The news articles likely meant the owners did not have the proper licenses for them. The Garand and Lee Enfiled are both non-restricted, meaning the most basic level of license is required to buy one. They arent registered to a particular owner. The AR15 used to be restricted, which is the next level up license and is basically the equivalent of a tax stamp. You are required to register it with the RCMP and can only use it at approved ranges. In 2020 after a brutal mass murder, AR15s and a number of other rifles were reclassified as Prohibited. Existing owners have been allowed to keep them since, but cannot take them anywhere, including shooting ranges. In theory, a buyback is coming but not before we change governments next year.

[@Fesquishety]

Adding my voice to the people praising the history segment. I am Australian so my knowledge of North America is pretty vague and generalised, so I genuinely really enjoy diving into different areas' unique history. Your research and hard work is always appreciated!

[@HappyChicken223]

Aden trying to say “Police your too busy, I am bored and need something to do. “.

[@quantumspookiness708]

One that could use some attention is the disappearance of Melanie Ethier from Temiskaming Shores, Ontario Canada. Still hasn't been found and nobody knows what happened.

[@cheryla.c.5549]

Hey there! The CBC podcast The Next Call covered Melanie Eithier's case extremely well. I left feeling the case was solved--yet not officially.

[@todddouglas2022]

Keep the history section. I’m 38 and binge your stuff because you’re intelligent and thorough. Do you.

[@ZimmyZimz]

Legit the history section is usually my favourite

[@letsgoeverywhere]

I live on this indigenous land, in Toronto, and the background info in this video is so fantastic! Most Canadian people don't know this important and fascinating history.

[@_Macho_Man_]

You say we can skip it every time, but honestly the history segments are the reason I watch these,. The missing person/murder cases are like a second video that I'm also interested in

[@worldwhytf9429]

we have ALWAYS had issues with crime and poverty in Smiths Falls. Unfortunately, drug use is EXTREMELY prevalent here, leading to much of the criminality.

[@zer0patiencewithitall]

I’m a teen and my dad grew up around Almonte and Smiths Falls and whenever we drive through, he always talks about the decline of the town from the 90’s and beyond.

[@Downs-Indroam]

I don't think you covered it but in Alberta... guessing 2009ish.... a fella by the name of Vince Li severed a guy's head on the middle of a full Greyhound bus. It is a crazy story with a lot of facts known and out there, and some very gruesome stuff too. Could go deeper into schizophrenia/mental illness a little too if you wanted to implement a bigger story or series of some sort. Just and idea and from the time I write this I put it out to the ether for anyone to use freely (just in case you or anyone is hesitant on using someone's "idea" lol). I also thought of making a nerd rope type of candy before they came out with it vmbut am not shaken up about not getting rich from it lol Hope everyone is having a great day and again, thanks for putting these very well put together and informative/entertaining videos 😊

[@andrew-729]

Ideas are cheap, we all have them. Action is what matters. 'It ain't your money till you make it, or it's just a conversation'

[@VinOnline]

*Manitoba

[@scottcantdance804]

That guy was already released a couple years ago, right? I really don't understand the justice system in a lot of Western countries. You can do something like that and just a few years later the authorities are like "we don't think he's a threat to the public".

[@umanicksy7107]

You forgot the part when he at the very least has day passes and is walking among us in Alberta.

[@umanicksy7107]

@@scottcantdance804yes. He walks around with anyone in Alberta, sadly.

[@SybilNix]

Thank you so much for sharing the history of the regions in these cases!! I always look forward to learning more about indigenous history, since it’s barely ever covered in standard history classes, and you share the information in a very engaging way.

[@sarahfaucher2111]

Privacy in Canada is nice... but I can honestly say that it does less for the victims and communities than the criminals. We are often not told who commited a crime even against our family, if they have been identified or caught, if they will be properly charged, and what the results are in court (usually years later). The way in which our laws (including privacy) are being interpreted and used at this time not only puts the criminals rights before victims, but also enables repeat offenders. This is applicable to crimes commited by known and unknown entities. Our government and justice bodies do not share information that could help heal people (i.e. the highway of tears and missing and murdered indigenous women) or ensure that if the courts fail, that society can make sure the perpetrator will never be allowed to rest (i.e. people like Karla Halmolka). What is even worse is the current leadership of our government claims that in (mis)using our laws this way we are putting more emphasis on healing and rehabilitation than on punishment. They claim (falsely) that our courts have been harsher on some demographics than others and that the courts should now be more lienient on them. Meaning that if you are from (or claim to be from) a certain demographic, it doesn't matter that you committed a crime against someone- because you through your alleged ancestry are a victim. Laws are meant in Canada and the USA to make all equal. But in Canada under the law we are not equal. And this continues to get worse by the year. The secrecy of which things are protected in the name of privacy is only making things worse as criminals (and police bodies who do little to nothing) know that the public may never know the extent of their crimes- or when they live in your neighbourhood, go to your child's school, or work next to you.

[@fu33wummp]

I wanna say I really love this channel. It's great to see how the Aidens have a balanced, fair and thorough approach to these subjects.

[@samuelbowlby1202]

I was born in smiths falls and now live 30 minutes away. I’ve never even heard of these cases. They don’t seem to be in any hurry to figure it out

[@nathanjones8667]

“From his head down to his a boots.” Very subtle. Well done.

[@kaitlynbecker8424]

I'm Canadian, thank you for covering this ❤

[@queenkhajiit2540]

wow, I live an hour away. Both of our towns run through the same highway. We've had a lot of stuff happen around here, the biggest being the Russell Williams case when I was in grade 6 the schools in the area sent out a paper to let all parents know what was going on and all of us kids were so confused until he finally got caught. Small towns aren't as safe as some like to believe.

[@xb0xisbetter]

Unless someone's locked alone somewhere, facing the exit with a weapon nearby, they're never "safe". Even in that scenario, you could have a natural gas leak and your house could explode, or a meteorite could crash through your roof and kill you, no matter how unlikely. Safety is an illusion anywhere, and human nature exists wherever there are humans. Whenever people on tv predictably act shocked that some violent act occurred in a usually quiet place, saying "I don't feel safe anymore", that just reflects their own staggering naivety.

[@Downs-Indroam]

The "Newfoundland" you verified at the end is correct as far as my Nova Scotian "hick" accent knows lol

[@umanicksy7107]

Hey…born in Ontario here…but people in the west often call me an “east coaster” which I feel I would never claim, never even been Sceeched in. Like geography wise we jokingly call ourselves south coaster’s because the lakes but nooo. Where is the coast these people speak of. Ontario is not on a coast.

[@xoniec8884]

@@umanicksy7107 Newfoundlander here, first part "newfin" is correct but we pronounce the end as "land," not "lend" or "lund"

[@umanicksy7107]

@@xoniec8884 thank you

[@jonathan36457]

@@xoniec8884 can also confirm this is how we pronounce it

[@joelspaulding5964]

Are not Newfies considered more hick than you folks in NS? Even Cape Bretton? 😉 (Amazing locale)

[@mishmashmedley]

You down with OPP? Yeah you know me!

[@huntermoffatt733]

I'm from Almonte, Ontario. Only 30 mins away from Smith's falls and we've always knows it was the sketchy town nearby

[@user-so9qk1nf4t]

The fact that there are crimes in an area, does not warrant labeling an entire town 'sketchy". It's a poorly defined, ambiguous made- up term, an imperfect way to judge an entire area that is not at all helpful. As a lady who was mugged at knife point, in what you might call a "good" part of my city, i learned long ago that crime happens everywhere.

[@huntermoffatt733]

It's not the fact there's a crime rate, wierd and sketchy stuff just happens there

[@danielleverdant1100]

​@user-so9qk1nf4t I grew up there, and have lived in the area for 25 years, it's sketchy

[@rincandrepeat.999]

Thanks so much for doing such thorough and respectful research of lanark county. My friend and I are from Lanark/ Smiths Falls and are shocked by the careful attention and info you managed to find.

[@meganritchie2635]

Finally someone covering this!!!!! Living a couple of towns over, and there being now 4 people missing in the lanark county area! Matthew isn’t likely connected to these cases but his is crazy too !

[@SkipperBath]

As a Newfoundlander myself, we pronounce it as “New-fin-land”, as in “landing”. Some more emphasis on the land and you’ll have it perfect! Great video by the way :)

[@dawsonduke3333]

How could anyone skip the history segments? They're so good!

[@jamesknapp64]

video is on Smith Falls, Ontario and the pictures of a town at 29:23 has American Flags on top of buildings and a USA Today newspaper stand in it? Other Aidan used US town stock footage?

[@annienakashuk33]

I’m sure someone already commented this but a wampum belt is an agreement made among one party with Indigenous. Wampum belts was one of the first Treaty agreement.

[@AbraSings]

That's crazy to me. Whether or not someone was convicted of a crime should be public knowledge.

[@itsajem1683]

The quote from 28:34 sounds a lot to me like the intentions for relationships between colonisers and natives in my country Aotearoa New Zealand. This country was one of the last major colonised areas, and since the Church had seen so much of what happens to native peoples when colonisers first get involved, they tried much harder to make the European settlers recognise the human sovereignty of the native Maori people. Many of the Maori converted to Christianity, and the missionaries learnt the native Te Reo language, and invented a written form for it since the Maori people did not have a writing system. Obviously after a while, settlers and Maori tribes began to have issues, and the missionaries decided the best way to save the Maori would be to have an official treaty signed by the crown (settlers were pretty much exclusively from the UK) and the Maori chiefs. This became the Treaty of Waitangi, (or Te Tiriti o Waitangi) and is the only official founding document of the nations of Aotearoa New Zealand to this day. Unfortunately, there was an issue where the English version and the Reo version had a few words translated poorly, which lead to a misunderstanding of how much the Crown would actually control the land compared to the Chiefs. This, along with the fact that many of the settlers blatantly broke their side of agreements even regardless of the mistranslation (taking land of the Maori people etc), lead to war. For a long time since then, the Maori people have been pretty severely oppressed, even up into the mid 1900s it was illegal to speak Te Reo in public or teach it in schools, but I’m glad to say that we have majorly reversed a lot of that in recent times, and now Maori history and language is taught from a young age in schools, and there is a significant effort in politics to re assess the treaty and see how we can better understand and respect it in a way that works for both Pakeha (European) and Maori. I hope that we continue to lean into it and become a successfully bicultural nation where every person can speak both languages, and the treaty is upheld seriously in society.

[@AmonAnon-vw3hr]

The wars started before the treaty, land wasnt "taken" it was confiscated to stop it being used as staging points for massacres and raids against the pakeha, like the HMS Boyd massacre. Te reo was never illegal, and strangely enough, education performance has utterly plummeted after Maori was forced into the education system.

[@itsajem1683]

@@AmonAnon-vw3hr That is certainly what the crown claimed, I don’t find it particularly convincing, especially considering that somewhere between 60% and 90% of Maori had already converted to Christianity at this point, and were vouched for by the church. One thing to unlearn about New Zealand history is the idea that the colonial government and the church were on the same side, they were not. The church was blatantly working against the wishes of government to make sure the Maori people were given rights and citizenship before they could be wiped out, and they almost succeeded, but the colonisers made their excuses to attempt to wipe them out anyway, thereby killing fellow Christians. There were some battles before the treaty obviously, but the land war started after the treaty. Also, Te Reo was made illegal in school in the 1867 Native Schools act, and didn’t start being allowed to be taught until 1982. Children were still being beaten in school for speaking Reo in the 60s. As far as your insinuation about the education system failing due to Te Reo being introduced, that’s simply a faulty assumption of correlation vs causation. If you genuinely think that had some part to play in education getting worse, you are just racist.

[@amateursnake424]

I'm an Aniishnabe person and I think you explained the 7 fires pretty well. I actually live at one of the stopping places too. You're also one of the few people I've ever seen on the internet that I don't personally know say Aniishnabe right. It's cool to see my personal lore be explained on the channel. Nice stuff guys. My only note is Midewiwin is spelled like that but I've only ever heard us say it like Mid-day-win. As I'm sure you know it's not a written language originally so the spellings are all over the place and so are the way people say stuff. Like black in some parts of MI is pronounced Mukaday and in farther north Canada it's Mikaday Auzit.

[@JasonBrockStick]

Great work and story telling! As I’m getting into the history section and thinking this is amazing info about the Native Canadian’s you mentioned the “split. I live in mid-northern Ontario in the Nipissing region (Lake Nipissing). There are monument’s to Jacques Cartier and other first European explorer’s here as the route followed lakes, river’s and short portage’s to travel North West… there are still respected Native culture’s here but do have a much larger population of English, then French (being an hour from Quebec) - two lakes, beautiful forest’s, trail’s and hills. Learning of the prophecy that brought the Algonquin Nip-is-sing tribes here was an interesting surprise. Thank You for your research and the organization of your presentation!

[@tomfournier4941]

I'm from the area. The forth guy you mention who was found in the woods off William Street. I remember walking William Street on my way to Hwy 43 in August of 2021. In the area he was found I smelled a strong smell of decomposition. At the time I chalked it up to a deer having been hit by a car and dying in the woods. I never thought of it being a person. Also when he was found the news reported that investigators from Corrections Canada were involved with the investigation but no details as to why we're provided.

[@darius_defiant]

as an Ontarian, the way you said Newfoundland sounded perfectly normal to me

[@Redline6ix]

Dope hearing you speak about the province I live in and also speaking on the First Nations culture, literally felt good to hear the names and places you mentioned, it all sounded like home to me. :)

[@loicbazin1053]

What is the channel name?

[@Redline6ix]

@@loicbazin1053 Hammerson Peters (same as his name)

[@tomfournier4941]

Smiths Falls actually has a long history of crime and poverty. Many murders have occurred there and many of them are decades old and unsolved. The nickname for Smiths Falls in the 1970's & 80's was "Little Chicago". People used to say that if you wanted to murder somebody and get away with it, do it in Smiths Falls if possible. I grew up in Perth which is 12 miles away so I know the history well.

[@connorp11067]

I really love the history sections, please never stop them they are so helpful and interesting

[@AJOlaks]

History Segment finally returns I was missing it's exclusion

[@kimgadoury4245]

Rideau River, pronounced "READ-O"; French Canadian - actually means "curtain" ...lol; it's a Canal System deemed a World Heritage Site :)

[@audibjornsson6107]

I love the history you give! Its why i subscribed. Excellent content on a whole. Makes your channel unique, and i appreciate all your research and hard work. Thank you

[@audibjornsson6107]

Had to add - is Vikings are not European we are Scandinavian

[@RogerAllingham]

As a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, I can confidently say it is pronounced Newfin-LAND by the locals! Not as pronounced as most places that end in “land.”

[@thegoblin9387]

I grew up in Carleton Place, a mere twenty minute drive from Smiths Falls. The land here is second to none, and the swamps are endless. I almost jumped out of my chair when I saw you had releases this, because I happen to be visiting home as we speak and landed at the train station in Smiths Falls on the 2nd.

[@zer0patiencewithitall]

Hey! I don’t know you but I’m from CP too!

[@holdencornfield472]

the "similar interests" to they all use drugs threw me for a loop

[@ggbritchick3168]

Yaaay a new video, just what I need on a boring night shift! Keep up the good work :)

[@DjDeja]

Same! Just finishing my night shift

[@katies3816]

Love seeing Canadian content! I've spent a lot of time in the areas near Smiths Falls and never heard about these cases. Thanks for the video! 😊

[@lilacsbby4787]

with the canadian police it’s also a difference between how the RCMP do things and how the OPP do things. you probably already know this but the RCMP doesn’t police the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Instead, we have our own provincial police forces, hence the OPP. the OPP /DEFINITELY/ have their flaws but compared to the RCMP, they don’t look so bad

[@vladimirsamardzic963]

Man love it mystery mix with history 👌🎯

[@bellabunni3]

Just wanted to say that I discovered this channel about two weeks ago and I’ve been binge watching like crazy! I love the dedication and respect you all put into the research and presentation of these cases ❤ I’m also a history buff so I adore those segments! (*im also a transfer from PSU so I always love the Nittany pride)

[@stephaniedumas3251]

I am part Ojibwe from Ontario and I must say, Amazing work! I did not even know a lot of this history. I will be sharing this with my family, Chi-miigwetch!

[@panspray7298]

Friendly reminder, like and subscribe, everyone!

[@brown958]

Has anyone verified he’s actually in a lodge?

[@Black_Heart_Defense]

Great vid guys! Thanks for the night work shift grind entertainment!

[@mecahhannah]

The history segment is my favorite part you should do a channel just about this stuff love all your videos!❤

[@beeb6809]

I never skip the history part!

[@mdstilger2849]

Look into the sandwich maker cult. Those housewives are crafty.

[@kittytrail]

i'd say it's them bears, the crafty black ones, usually loitering near the local Walmart's dumpsters, looking for any opportunity to do no good... 😼👆

[@NielKlauss]

as always, excellent work ethic. imho, one the best channels of its kind

[@3richardrussell]

This is a really well researched and presented video. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Canada.

[@QuivaRPG]

The pronunciation of "Newfoundland" was explained to me, by a Newfoundlander, as the same as "understand". so, UnderSTAND, NewfoundLAND. If you're a little more grammatically-minded: weak stress on New, no stress on Found, strong stress on Land.

[@peitrodominic1011]

If you think smith falls is bad now, it is much better than it was even 10 years ago. Smith falls is probably at its most gentrified it has ever been; it is still a corrupt hellhole but it is actually starting to be kinda nice

[@mikebarr2347]

Yeah the Smiths falls of my childhood seems like a crack den compared to the Smiths falls of today, not saying they don't still have problems but it's definitely cleaned up

[@peitrodominic1011]

Smith falls, from its founding, was a dump. More specifically, it was where the immigrant Irish laborers who worked on creating the Rideau locks were put because it was a swamp with less than 8 ft of topsoil on solid rock. Meanwhile, all the Scottish masons and foremen who also worked on the locks got the fertile farm land around Perth which is half an hour drive away from smith falls. The social disparity is pretty much baked in, and from the water system to the street setup the corruption is clearly at play. Seriously, the way the streets are arrange around the tracks is absolutely unique in South Ontario small towns. I remember growing up there, that there was enough chlorine in the tap water you could smell it and you would regularly see flecks of stuff in it as well regardless of the faucet or home (my bother claims he once had bit of diaper come out of the tap; and I once saw painted aluminum flecks come out that looked like they came from a soda can).

[@peitrodominic1011]

I'm kinda surprised you didn't cover the war of 1812 and all the history there in. Smith falls and its current state directly exists because of that conflict (more or less). it's location as a hub between the kingston and Ottawa made it a hub for trains and now trucking, and all the illicit substances there in. You should also look into the drug lord who was killed on the street by his girlfriend in the 80s and the suicide of the head of the water treatment plant (not related but it shows how screwed up this place is).

[@nightlyoko626]

I love the history part I listen to this while at work and learn something new every day : )

[@zZz0349]

You’re great at making these videos!! Preciate you