18°c Overcast
14°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Full day for News (sports, arts) Café
Andy Maize (left) and Josh Finlayson of the Skydiggers perform Wednesday. (MELISSA TAIT)
Photos by Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press World champion Canadian figure-skater Patrick Chan (left) and retired general Rick Hillier (far right) speak with reporter Geoff Kirbyson on Wednesday. (MELISSA TAIT)
Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press Retired general Rick Hillier speaks with Free Press reporter Geoff Kirbyson in the Winnipeg Free Press News Caf�� on Wednesday. (MELISSA TAIT)
News, sports and entertainment -- the Winnipeg Free Press News Café had it all on Wednesday.
Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson from the Skydiggers started things off on the downtown café's stage in the morning, playing a couple of songs from their new album, Northern Shore, and pontificating on the state of the music industry, some memorable and infamous shows in Winnipeg and their recent political work helping out at fundraisers for their friend and sometimes bandmate, NDP MP Andrew Cash.
The full band performs at the West End Cultural Centre on Saturday, the site of a 1995 show that ended just one song into their set because the weight of people bopping on the dance floor caused it to partially collapse into the basement of the old converted church.
Rick Hillier, former chief of defence staff of the Canadian Forces, stopped by the news café in the afternoon.
Even though he retired as Canada's top soldier 31/2 years ago, he was able provide an update on Canada's continuing role in Afghanistan and how Canadians soldiers have helped bring some sense of normalcy to Afghans.
He also reiterated his position that he is not interested in succeeding Prime Minister Stephen Harper or in becoming premier of his home province, Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I wouldn't put that on my family," he said.
Hillier was in town to speak at a Junior Achievement luncheon.
Two-time defending world men's figure skating champion Patrick Chan finished off the news café's day with an entertaining chat about gunning for gold in the 2014 Olympics, his demanding training schedule and his current fundraising tour to help his training.
He said he hasn't had much luck in attracting corporate sponsors so he's having to rely on friends, friends of friends and family.
He does have one corporate sponsor, McDonald's, for which he appeared in commercials that aired during the Vancouver Olympics. He said while the multinational chain isn't known for its low-calorie offerings, he and other athletes do eat there. They often start with a salad.
"But we often come back to the burgers. The salads don't taste as good as a Big Mac," he said.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 24, 2012 B4
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 33 articles for today)
Local anti-Monsanto protesters critical of 'Franken-food'
4:38 PM 0They didn’t come out in the numbers organizers had hoped for, but the anti-Monsanto message got out anyway.
About 100 people ...
View Related
Poll
Most Popular Local
- MTS becomes takeover target
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Premier defends PST hike at NDP convention
- Infamous, chronic pedophile declines to seek parole
- Several held in gun sighting
- City's first urban reserve born
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- City's first urban reserve born
- The end of the credit card?
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Unjust justice: Still no aboriginal court in Manitoba
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- MTS becomes takeover target
- SCU pulls Bill 18 petition
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- You can bet the farm on housebarns
- City's first urban reserve born
- Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Former CEO 'disappointed' Allstream leaves Manitoba
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- City's first urban reserve born
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- North End proud
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.