Winnipeg Free Press – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada

Serious crash at West Kildonan intersection known for collisions

Nicole Buffie 3 minute read Updated: 6:09 PM CDT

Residents in West Kildonan say an intersection that was the site of a serious car crash Sunday morning is notoriously dangerous.

Rob Lick heard a loud bang around 7 a.m. and rushed out of his home on Leila to see what the commotion was. He saw two crushed SUVs, a white and black one, in the intersection. Police vehicles arrived shortly after.

“It sounded like when (garbage trucks) drop a big dumpster,” he said. “I heard somebody crying or wailing, they were standing by the vehicle so I don’t know who exactly it was or if someone was injured.”

The sound of sirens followed shortly after when emergency crews came to the scene. The intersection was immediately blocked off.

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Books

SAMMY KOGAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Jennifer Botterill became the first Manitoban woman to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November.

Botterill’s memoir Why Not You is sure to inspire future rosters in women’s sports

Grace Anne Paizen 7 minute read Preview

Botterill’s memoir Why Not You is sure to inspire future rosters in women’s sports

Grace Anne Paizen 7 minute read 5:36 PM CDT

Decorated Olympian. Hard-hitting hockey analyst. Inspiring author. Winnipeg’s own Jennifer Botterill is adding yet another chapter in her historic and storied career.

Botterill’s autobiography Why Not You: My Story of Perseverance, Hockey, and Olympic Gold, that hits the shelves Sept. 22, takes a step-by-step look back at the former forward’s many sports lives — from her days as a ringette player growing up in Winnipeg in the 1980s, to her Olympic debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old at the 1998 Nagano Games, to her burgeoning career as a hockey analyst as part of the beloved Hockey Night in Canada broadcast crew.

And wrapping up her long resumé was something she already had in the works before she was inducted into the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame last November.

“It was just nice timing on how it all worked out,” Botterill told the Free Press last week.

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5:36 PM CDT

NHL

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel says the decision for Manitoba to adopt permanent daylight time has thrown things off for teams around the NHL.

Jets up against the clock

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Jets up against the clock

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read 7:03 PM CDT

Time has often been on the side of the Winnipeg Jets, with Cole Perfetti’s famous “Manitoba Miracle” buzzer-beater serving as Exhibit A.

But that won’t necessarily be the case this coming season, when the clock threatens to become a stubborn and, at times, confusing opponent.

Premier Wab Kinew’s decision to adopt permanent daylight time will have a significant impact on the hockey club, both as hosts and visitors, head coach Scott Arniel told the Free Press on Sunday.

Athletes are creatures of habit, and their regular routines are going to be challenged during the period from Nov. 1 to March 14, which covers the majority of the 84-game campaign.

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7:03 PM CDT

Canada

Transportation Safety Board investigating after two pilots found dead near Regina

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Transportation Safety Board investigating after two pilots found dead near Regina

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 4:41 PM CDT

REGINA - A Manitoba-based flying school and air taxi provider says two of its pilots were found dead near Regina on Friday.

Adam Penner, president of Harv's Air, says in a statement that two people were aboard the Cessna 172 on a night flight from Regina to Steinbach, Man.

Penner says a search began after the aircraft did not arrive on schedule, and the plane was found along with its two occupants on Friday evening near Kisbey, southeast of Regina.

Harv's Air says it is shocked and saddened by the tragedy, and it is working with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in determining the cause of the deaths.

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Updated: 4:41 PM CDT

Local

GABRIELLE PICHE / FREE PRESS
Edward Matwawana, executive director of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, collaborated on the fifth National Black Canadians Summit with Angela Cassie, the summit’s chair.

National Black Canadians Summit celebrates culture, combats racism

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Preview

National Black Canadians Summit celebrates culture, combats racism

Gabrielle Piché 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:06 PM CDT

Despite the event’s name — the National Black Canadians Summit — Bruce Miller felt he should attend.

He booked a ticket. And so, this weekend, the Indigenous Manitoban joined roughly 1,500 people flocking to the RBC Convention Centre.

It’s a full schedule — addresses from a former Canadian governor general, sessions on Black mental health and anti-Black racism.

The annual event draws politicians, artists and other professionals from across the country.

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Yesterday at 6:06 PM CDT

NHL

Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender Thomas Milic (32) (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

New Jets show promise despite loss to experienced Oilers

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

New Jets show promise despite loss to experienced Oilers

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Updated: 9:34 AM CDT

Preseason hockey games are always more about the process than the result, and that’s especially true when the opposing rosters appear to be a major mismatch on paper.

So a 5-2 loss by an inexperienced group of Winnipeg Jets skaters against a star-studded Edmonton Oilers squad on Saturday night in the Alberta capital was neither surprising nor alarming.

There was, however, plenty to like from the visitors’ perspective despite the outcome.

Let’s break it down.

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Updated: 9:34 AM CDT

Opinion

Can Brazil’s Lula best Bolsonaro’s backers? Peter McKenna Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT
Not falling back means time loop remains unclosed Jen Zoratti Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT
Kinew has crucial role to play helping Carney get the ball rolling on resource projects Niigaan Sinclair Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

Local

Ingested cannabis — such as these Aurora raspberry gummies — takes a slower journey through the body, from the stomach to the liver, which increases the time it takes to get high. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)

New health curriculum puts emphasis on harm reduction

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

New health curriculum puts emphasis on harm reduction

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Manitoba is revamping how students are taught about drugs with an emphasis on harm reduction, the complexities of substance use disorders and the role of ceremonial tobacco in Indigenous cultures.

For the first time this century, physical education and health curriculum is undergoing a systematic overhaul set to debut in September 2028.

Drafts released this back-to-school season have “substances and patterns of behaviour” units across kindergarten to Grade 12.

Grade 6 has been updated so students learn about the short- and long-term effects and risks of using and misusing cannabis products, as well as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and vaping.

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Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Civic Election

GABRIELLE PICHE / FREE PRESS
Chris Sweryda officially launched his campaign for the Elmwood-East Kildonan seat Saturday.

Elmwood–East Kildonan candidate promises to tackle ‘inefficiency’ in government

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Preview

Elmwood–East Kildonan candidate promises to tackle ‘inefficiency’ in government

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Yesterday at 6:17 PM CDT

The former assistant of late Elmwood–East Kildonan councillor Jason Schreyer is again running for the seat.

Chris Sweryda officially launched his campaign Saturday. He did so with the backdrop of a grocery program he runs, where food is sold near-cost out of St. Gerard School’s gym.

Rows of cereal, pasta sauce and chips filled tables ahead of the program’s afternoon opening. Sweryda created the pop-up with Schreyer months ahead of the former councillor’s April 2025 death.

The program sees roughly 500 people each day it’s open (which is every other week on Saturday), Sweryda said.

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Yesterday at 6:17 PM CDT

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Canada

Surrey-Serpentine River B.C. Conservative candidate Linda Hepner, front left, and Surrey-Cloverdale candidate Elenore Sturko attend a campaign stop with B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad, not seen, in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, October 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Upheaval in B.C. Conservative caucus unabated as Findlay resigns as leader

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Preview

Upheaval in B.C. Conservative caucus unabated as Findlay resigns as leader

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Updated: 8:17 PM CDT

Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as the leader of British Columbia's Conservatives on Sunday after weeks of upheaval in the official Opposition caucus, though she said she would remain the party's candidate in an upcoming byelection.

A statement from Findlay said stepping down was not an easy decision, but she believed it was "the right one for our movement and our province."

Her tenure as Conservative leader, which lasted fewer than four months, was marked by infighting, firings, a string of defections by sitting legislators and the recent revelation that a private investigator was hired to look into her critics.

Findlay's resignation came just hours after legislator Linda Hepner announced she was leaving the Conservative caucus, citing the party's direction under Findlay, bringing to 13 the number of sitting MLAs who have exited since August.

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Updated: 8:17 PM CDT

Civic Election

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
New polling data shows 55 per cent of decided voters favour incumbent mayor Scott Gillingham compared to 23 per cent for Kevin Klein and 11 per cent for Mike Vogiatzakis.

Gillingham in lead with decided voters

Nicole Buffie 6 minute read Preview

Gillingham in lead with decided voters

Nicole Buffie 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

A cloud of uncertainty is hanging over Winnipeg as October’s municipal election nears.

Three months after a poll showed more than 40 per cent of Winnipeggers wanted to see someone other than current mayor Scott Gillingham elected, a new Abacus Data poll indicates more than half of Winnipeg voters are undecided heading into next month’s civic election.

Of decided voters, 55 per cent favour Gillingham compared to 23 per cent for former councillor and provincial cabinet minister Kevin Klein and 11 per cent for funeral director Mike Vogiatzakis.

Of all respondents, just over 50 per cent said they were unsure while 13 per cent said they will not vote.

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Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after giving remarks at the Palais de l’Elysee in Paris, on Friday, June 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Canada, France pledge to work together on space infrastructure, economy

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Canada, France pledge to work together on space infrastructure, economy

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: 2:59 PM CDT

SAINT-PIERRE - Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to work together in the areas of space infrastructure, business and economic growth as the leaders met Sunday in the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Speaking to reporters, Carney said he and Macron will task their space agencies and defence ministries to develop and share common infrastructure, including space launch systems and ground-based reception facilities.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said the countries plan to work together on infrastructure that can receive data from satellites.

Carney said that he and Macron will also task the regional joint cooperation commission between Atlantic Canada and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to expand its work in economic growth, energy transition and climate resilience.

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Updated: 2:59 PM CDT

Local

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Mayor Scott Gillingham presents the Mayor’s Award of Valour to Jaycyln Morrissette (right) and Brady Saunders at Winnipeg City Hall on Friday.

Mayor honours pair who rescued little girl, father from Red River in August

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Preview

Mayor honours pair who rescued little girl, father from Red River in August

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

A “proud and thankful” Mayor Scott Gillingham honoured two Winnipeggers Friday who rescued a young girl who fell into the Red River last month.

Gillingham said he was humbled to meet Jayclyn Morrissette and Brady Saunders before he presented them with the Mayor’s Award of Valour for saving the child and her father, who jumped into the water in an attempt to help his daughter and nearly drowned.

“These are the kind of people who we have in our city,” he said. “When someone is in need, they’ll step up, risk their own lives, to help someone they’ve never met in their life.”

Morrissette and Saunders were at St. John’s Park in the evening on Aug. 24, when they saw the man and child in the river.

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Friday, Sep. 18, 2026