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

Bombers exact revenge in Banjo Bowl, lose Collaros to injury

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Yesterday at 9:20 PM CDT

Redha Kramdi downplayed the significance of his return for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I don’t think I have that big of an impact,” said Kramdi on Tuesday, who watched the club go 2-4 while he was sidelined with a cast on his left hand.

It sounded silly at the time, and it’s even sillier now considering how exceptional the 29-year-old safety from Montreal was in Saturday’s 22nd edition of the Banjo Bowl.

Kramdi caused two turnovers — a forced fumble and an interception — to lead the Bombers to a 19-6 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of a sell-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium.

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Drug recovery centre opens office in ‘heart of the city’

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Preview

Drug recovery centre opens office in ‘heart of the city’

Morgan Modjeski 4 minute read Yesterday at 3:38 PM CDT

Richard Halverson found his freedom from addiction through Adult & Teen Challenge and, six years later, he hopes a new Winnipeg location will bring hope to the city.

Dozens gathered Saturday morning to mark the grand opening of the recovery centre’s community services office on Main Street.

Located inside the former Wojcik funeral home, the bright-white building — which was also formerly a liquor store — will serve as an access point for people fighting drug addiction. That includes connecting them to addictions support, housing and training.

“For me, I always start with: ‘What’s your story?’” said Halverson, who now works for the faith-based organization.

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Yesterday at 3:38 PM CDT

Local

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Bell is currently evaluating upgrade options for its infrastructure in the southwest region.

Citizen reports help highlight connectivity issues across southwest Manitoba

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Preview

Citizen reports help highlight connectivity issues across southwest Manitoba

Nicole Buffie 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:43 AM CDT

A southwestern Manitoba man has created a map to document cell service blackout spots in an effort to push for better access in rural areas.

Mark Custance compiled more than 300 citizen reports over the last few months to document where service in southwest Manitoba is strong, spotty or doesn’t exist at all.

“I’ve heard people complain and say, ‘cell service sucks’ or ‘this is not working.’ But what does the data actually say?” Custance said from his office in Melita, where he has installed a cell-service booster to maintain connectivity with the rest of the world.

Analyzing where service is good and poor, he cross-references it with the location of cellphone towers across the region.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:43 AM CDT

Uncategorized

George Chuvalo poses for a portrait after the announcement in Toronto on Friday, March 11, 2016 of upcoming events commemorating the historic 1966 Muhammad Ali versus George Chuvalo boxing match. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Canadian boxing icon George Chuvalo, known for his two Ali fights, dies at 89

Bill Beacon and Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 8 minute read Preview

Canadian boxing icon George Chuvalo, known for his two Ali fights, dies at 89

Bill Beacon and Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:48 PM CDT

George Chuvalo, a hard-nosed heavyweight who never hit the canvas despite taking on the world's best boxers, has died.

Sully's Boxing Gym in Toronto, where Chuvalo trained during his career, confirmed his death in a social media post Saturday. The gym said Chuvalo died on his 89th birthday.

"Today, Sully's lost a piece of its history," the gym said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also paid tribute to Chuvalo, calling him "a heavyweight boxing legend, a family friend and a Canadian icon."

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:48 PM CDT

Local

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Progressive Conservative party health critic Kathleen Cook says health authority officials upended her plan to visit the Dauphin care home.

Tory health critic ‘disappointed’ after being rebuffed by health officials

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Preview

Tory health critic ‘disappointed’ after being rebuffed by health officials

Carol Sanders 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:53 AM CDT

The health critic for the Progressive Conservative party says her ability to get information about the accelerated reopening of Dauphin’s emergency department was stymied by Prairie Mountain Health officials because they refused to meet with her.

“I wanted to meet with PMH staff to discuss the status of the facility and the challenges they’re facing and getting services back online,” Kathleen Cook said Friday.

“I was very disappointed that Prairie Mountain Health declined me that opportunity.”

Cook said she asked for a meeting a few days after the Sept. 7 reopening of a temporary ER at the hospital, that was severely damaged by flooding.

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Yesterday at 11:53 AM CDT

Local

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WFPS emergency communications staff handled calls for 136,198 separate incidents in 2025.

City to hire consultant to analyze 911 staffing levels amid skyrocketing calls

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

City to hire consultant to analyze 911 staffing levels amid skyrocketing calls

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is ordering a detailed analysis of its 911 communications staffing level to cope with a surge in emergency calls and the demands of new technology.

WFPS emergency communications staff handled calls for 136,198 separate incidents in 2025. That number has risen every year since at least 2020, when 104,250 incidents were reported, the service’s annual report notes.

The total number of calls to the centre reached almost 275,000 last year. That broader figure also includes multiple calls per event and administrative calls.

“Things have changed in the last decade and call volumes have increased dramatically. That puts pressure on our systems,” said Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas).

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Opinion

Canadians loving Carney’s decision to stand tall against floundering U.S. bully Tom Brodbeck Friday, Sep. 11, 2026
AI poses threat to Indigenous culture, knowledge, creativity Niigaan Sinclair Updated: Yesterday at 11:44 AM CDT
All about Pep Jerrad Peters Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Local

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
The survey also found that the majority of respondents support the use of body-worn cameras for Winnipeg police officers.

Downtown no place to be after dark, huge majority of Winnipeggers say in survey

Joyanne Pursaga 6 minute read Preview

Downtown no place to be after dark, huge majority of Winnipeggers say in survey

Joyanne Pursaga 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Most Winnipeggers are afraid to walk alone downtown and believe the city needs more police officers, a new survey finds.

Winnipeg Police Service released its 2026 citizen survey Friday.

Downtown safety appears to remain a major concern, with just 44 per cent saying they feel very or reasonably safe walking alone in the area during the day. The number plummets to eight per cent overall at night, down from nine per cent in 2024, the last time the survey was conducted.

This year, 14 per cent of men felt very or reasonably safe walking alone downtown at night, compared to just three per cent of women.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Local

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
A piper plays Amazing Grace as people participate in the 25th Annual 9/11 Memorial Service at the International Peace Garden in Boissevain Friday.

International Peace Garden 9/11 remembrance ‘especially meaningful’

Alex Lambert 6 minute read Preview

International Peace Garden 9/11 remembrance ‘especially meaningful’

Alex Lambert 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN — Hundreds of people on the American side of the International Peace Garden, which straddles the Manitoba-North Dakota border, bowed their heads and observed a moment of silence Friday on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Firefighters, politicians, military members and aviation officials were part of the ceremony at the garden, held to remember and honour the nearly 3,000 people who died and the heroic acts of first responders.

“Twenty-five years have passed, but the significance of that day has not diminished,” said Dave Schellenberg, the vice-chair of the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs.

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four planes and flew two of them into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City and a third one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., while a fourth one that was targeted to hit the White House crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaida.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

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Bomber Report

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Dech comes by his love of the Roughriders honestly. He was born and raised in Regina.

What it means to be green… in a city beholden to the blue and gold

David Sanderson 7 minute read Preview

What it means to be green… in a city beholden to the blue and gold

David Sanderson 7 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

It’s not easy being green… if you’re a Winnipeg Blue Bombers season-ticket holder.

Dave Dech ordinarily arrives at his designated seat in Princess Auto Stadium fully decked out in blue and gold. That won’t be the situation this weekend, however, when the Bombers clash with their principal Canadian Football League rival, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in the annual, sold-out Banjo Bowl game.

“No, I’ll be in green pretty much from head to toe. People sitting around us kid me, but by now they know if it’s the Banjo Bowl, Dave’s showing up in green,” says Dech, 63, possibly the biggest Saskatchewan supporter this side of Moosomin.

Not only does the married father of two grown sons have 25 Roughriders jerseys hanging in his closet — at press time, he was still mulling over which one to throw on for Saturday’s tilt — there is a main-floor lair in his and his wife Patti’s Westwood abode you’ll probably want to avoid if you suffer from prasinophobia — a fear of the colour green.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Local

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Broadway was closed Friday between Furby and Young streets until further notice.

Injuries reported after police pursuit on Broadway

Free Press staff 3 minute read Preview

Injuries reported after police pursuit on Broadway

Free Press staff 3 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Winnipeg police are investigating a “serious incident” in which people were injured following a police pursuit near Broadway and Young Street Friday afternoon.

Police said the scene would remain secured as officers investigate. No details about the number or severity of injuries were released.

Broadway was closed between Furby and Young streets until further notice and motorists were asked to avoid the area.

Shaelyn Desmarais McLeod, whose car sustained minor damage, said she witnessed the end of the police pursuit.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Basketball

Sex assault charges against basketball referee stayed

Dean Pritchard 3 minute read Preview

Sex assault charges against basketball referee stayed

Dean Pritchard 3 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

A Winnipeg basketball referee accused of sexual offences involving three men has had criminal charges against him stayed.

Michael Shane Maryk, 45, had been set to stand trial July 20 on five counts of sexual assault and two counts of committing an indecent act, but instead agreed to a one-year peace bond prohibiting him from having any contact with the three men.

Maryk was employed by the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials at the time the offences were alleged to have occurred.

The peace bond requires that Maryk not come within 200 metres of the men’s homes, schools or places of worship and have no contact with their families.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Local

Highway-safety upgrades in progress after tragic Interlake crash

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Preview

Highway-safety upgrades in progress after tragic Interlake crash

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Provincial workers have started to update or install safety measures at a rural Interlake intersection where four teenage friends died in a crash on Labour Day weekend.

Pavement markings were repainted at Highway 8 and Provincial Road 229, just west of Winnipeg Beach, ahead of work to refresh worn-down rumble strips, starting Monday, and install flashing lights atop two stop signs, following an assessment earlier this week.

“They will also need to incorporate any information from the RCMP report that might be helpful if we were to consider any additional safety measures at this intersection,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said of department staff.

“The most important thing is safety, and any kinds of changes we make at any intersection actually have to make it safer.”

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026