Katz ‘violated public trust,’ Sheegl lacked ‘moral compass,’ police HQ inquiry commissioner concludes

The final report from the public inquiry into the scandal-plagued Winnipeg Police Service headquarters construction project concludes that former mayor Sam Katz and former city CAO Phil Sheegl broke public trust and engaged in unethical conduct.

And the report, released Monday by inquiry commissioner Garth Smorang, says the cost of the project — transforming a downtown Canada Post office tower and warehouse into the police HQ — soared, in part, because main contractor Caspian Projects overcharged the city by more than $40 million in expenses.

The project’s initial $135-million initial price tag rose to about $209 million in the end. The city purchased the complex in 2009; construction was completed in 2016.

Smorang’s report concludes Katz “violated the public trust” and council code of conduct, and Sheegl suffered from a “complete lack of a moral compass.”

Prosecutions branch reviewing new evidence from police HQ public inquiry

The Manitoba Prosecution Service is examining whether evidence presented during the inquiry could change previous decisions not to lay charges in the scandal-plagued project.

Accused used fuel-filled bottle to set blaze that killed two, court hears

Alex Courchene failed once to set a North End church ablaze, then returned a day later and tried again, starting a fire that killed two people living in an upstairs apartment suite, a jury was told Monday.

Campaign blunder: Klein features wrong city in election video

A paid ad from mayoral candidate Kevin Klein on his commitment to Winnipeg has been pulled after commenters noticed one small error: the footage used in the ad was actually of Edmonton.

Wainwright, Alta., residents grieving but resilient after tragic fire on army base

WAINWRIGHT - Residents of a central Alberta town are grieving after a vicious fire killed four men and injured dozens more at a nearby military base, but living alongside soldiers preparing for battle has built up a deep stoicism and resilience in the community.

"It's heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families but we'll bounce back," said Sharon Pashko, 79, whose uncle was once commander of CFB Wainwright.

Pashko said the community, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, takes care of its own and should be proud.

"We've gone above and beyond and I'm very proud of Wainwright residents," she added.

Clay Stevenson credits therapeutic side of hockey in learning to live with mother’s suicide

Hockey has always been more than just a game to Clay Stevenson. That was especially true after he suffered the biggest loss of his life: his mother, Holly, died by suicide seven years ago.

Bullet to the face nets 7.5 years behind bars

Calling it “intimate partner terror,” a judge sentenced a Winnipeg man to seven-and-a-half years in prison for firing a loaded handgun held to his partner’s head causing her life-altering injuries.

The woman, who the Free Press is only identifying as A.W., watched as Machuor Akau sat silently and stared at the ground as Manitoba Judge Sidney Lerner read his ruling Monday.

Akau, 28, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, pointing a firearm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm, didn’t speak during the sentencing or look at his victim or her family members as court progressed.

At a previous proceeding, Crown prosecutor Ari Millo had requested a sentence of eight years, while defence counsel Saul Simmonds argued for between five and six.

Rematch one year in the making in Elmwood-East Kildonan

Elmwood-East Kildonan voters may get a sense of deja vu at the ballot box next week.

Almost a year ago, incumbent Coun. Emma Durand-Wood won a byelection triggered by the death of former councillor Jason Schreyer with 31 per cent of the vote. She defeated six other candidates.

Two of those candidates have returned for a rematch: project manager Abel Gutierrez, who came in second last October, and Chris Sweryda, the former executive assistant for Schreyer, who finished fourth.

A pair of new faces have also entered the race: plumber Adam Dudek and cosmetics business owner Jessica Wiebe.

Mayoral hopeful Woodstock promises to fast-track approvals for Indigenous-led projects

Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock promised Monday to create a new municipal office to “level the playing field” and fast-track city approvals for Indigenous led-projects.

The office would create a direct pipeline for those projects when undergoing zoning regulations and setting up municipal services, such as sewage, so development timelines can be met or sped up, he said Monday.

The office would also be an “important step” in restoring equity for Indigenous developments, Woodstock said.

“If you’re Indigenous, I’m going to make sure that I put in place something that will tell you that under no circumstances you’ll be discriminated against because of your nationality, race, colour, creed,” he said.

Waters remain murky in unchartered Hellebuyck trade request territory

ST. LOUIS — The thing about being in unchartered waters is that the answer to the next question isn’t always readily apparent either above or below the surface.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel has been doing his best to ensure the upcoming two-game road trip against Central Division opponents doesn’t include a three-ring circus. But with news coming over the weekend that the suspension for goalie Connor Hellebuyck is set to expire on Friday, the club has to prepare for the next step in that process.

The problem, as Arniel conceded during his session on Monday afternoon before the team departed for Missouri, is that some of the hypotheticals need to be eliminated from the equation before the proper response can be determined.

“When it comes to Helly’s scenario, honestly I don’t really have a lot of information,” said Arniel. “I know everybody knows (about) Friday. That’s all we know.”

Measles outbreak over after 2 years, thousands infected in Canada: PHAC

A measles outbreak that spanned two years and infected thousands of people in Canada is over.

The Public Health Agency of Canada made the declaration in a press release Monday, stating that more than 6,400 people were infected across 10 provinces.

Two infants in Ontario and Alberta who were infected with measles while in the womb died after they were born.

The outbreak began in New Brunswick in October 2024 and about a year later led to the loss of Canada’s measles elimination status due to ongoing transmission of the highly contagious disease for more than 12 months.