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

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg left-wing groups gather to support the current Iranian regime outside the US Consulate on Portage Avenue Sunday, March 1, 2026. reporter: chris

Duelling protests in Winnipeg condemn, celebrate strikes on Iran

Chris Kitching 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:28 PM CST

The courtyard outside the U.S. consulate in downtown Winnipeg hosted contrasting demonstrations Sunday as Manitobans reacted to U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran’s regime and the latter’s retaliatory attacks.

Peace Alliance Winnipeg condemned the joint strikes, with supporters holding signs reading “No war on Iran” and “Ceasefire,” shortly before members of Winnipeg’s Iranian diaspora danced and waved flags while celebrating the death of Iran’s supreme leader and expressing hopes of “liberation.”

“All of us hope that soon the Islamic Republic of Iran will be overthrown, and we hope for the return of Pahlavi monarchy to Iran,” said Iranian Monarchists of Manitoba manager Shahla Shojaei, who moved to Canada from Iran in 2017.

“The reason that I came here (to Canada) was because there is no freedom in Iran. Human rights were suppressed.”

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Police announce charges for women accused in abduction

Chris Kitching 4 minute read Preview

Police announce charges for women accused in abduction

Chris Kitching 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:01 PM CST

Winnipeg police have charged two women with abducting a two-year-old boy, who was rescued when a witness recognized the victim and suspects from an Amber Alert.

Police said the boy’s mother was assaulted with a weapon and the child was abducted during a dispute at a home in the first 100 block of Chesterfield Avenue, in St. Vital, at about 10 a.m. Friday.

The Amber Alert was sent to cellphones across Manitoba, broadcast on TV and radio, and shared widely on social media when it was issued at about 1 p.m.

Amber Alerts are sent when a child is believed to have been abducted and is at risk of serious harm.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:01 PM CST

Police announce charges for women accused in abduction

Polar bear shore visits linked to sea ice levels, not hunger: U of M research

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Preview

Polar bear shore visits linked to sea ice levels, not hunger: U of M research

Kevin Rollason 3 minute read Yesterday at 6:13 PM CST

Conventional thinking is that bears wander near people when they’re hungry and searching for a bite, but a new study says it’s more likely they just happened to be in the neighbourhood.

That’s what researchers at the University of Manitoba and University of Saskatchewan have concluded after a more than decade-long study tracking polar bear visits to remote camps in Wapusk National Park located 45 kilometres south of Churchill.

The study, published in Arctic Science, coincided with International Polar Bear Day on Friday. It found proximity — and not desperation for food — appeared to be why the bears went near people.

“Our data is saying they might just be in the neighbourhood,” said Alex Crawford, an assistant professor in the University of Manitoba department of environment and geography.

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Yesterday at 6:13 PM CST

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Friends Mia, left, and Jia, right, view the polar bears during the International Polar Bear Day events at Assiniboine Zoo Sunday, March 1, 2026. reporter: standup

Police put energy into Taser upgrade

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Preview

Police put energy into Taser upgrade

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Yesterday at 3:48 PM CST

The Winnipeg Police Service wants to upgrade to the latest model of the Taser electroshock weapon, which a superintendent says is more effective and can be deployed from greater distances than the model they use now.

A five-year contract for 375 of the newest devices and associated software, at a yearly cost of just over $880,000, is up for approval at city council.

The less-lethal weapons would replace the inventory of older devices, which cost $564,000 annually, a report to city hall from 2023 indicates.

Winnipeg Police Service Supt. George Labossiere, who oversees operational support, said the latest Tasers are a significant advancement over the technology used by front-line officers. The service has used Tasers since 2005.

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Yesterday at 3:48 PM CST

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
A five-year contract for new Tasers for the Winnipeg Police Service is up for approval at city council.

Connecting Communities and Empowering Progress

3 minute read Preview

Connecting Communities and Empowering Progress

3 minute read 1:00 AM CST

In today’s digitally driven world, reliable and secure connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a business essential. This is especially true for organizations with operations spread across rural and remote areas, where infrastructure gaps can slow down productivity and limit growth. For Sunrise Credit Union, which serves more than 35,000 members across 19 branches across Southwestern Manitoba, improving connectivity was a key step in continuing to meet the needs of their communities.

In 2023, Sunrise Credit Union began looking to modernize their digital infrastructure. “Our existing systems were functional but outdated,” said Kelly Scott, Vice President of IT at Sunrise. “We were ready for a more future-forward solution that could grow with us.”

After weighing their options, Sunrise met with an out of province technology partner, SaskTel. Saskatchewan’s leading communications provider is best known in their home province, yet SaskTel has been steadily expanding its footprint, working with organizations across Western Canada that need customized, high-performance connectivity solutions.

From the very beginning, SaskTel approached the project differently. “They didn’t come in just trying to sell us something,” Scott noted. “They listened. They spent time learning about our needs, our environment, our challenges. Then they came back with a strategy designed specifically for us — not a one-size-fits-all plan.”

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1:00 AM CST

Connecting Communities and Empowering Progress

More Jets OT troubles in loss to Sharks

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

More Jets OT troubles in loss to Sharks

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Yesterday at 7:44 PM CST

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Close, but not quite close enough.

That will go down as the overarching theme for this three-game road trip for the Winnipeg Jets after closing the swing out with a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center.

For the second time in as many games, the Jets were unable to bring home a lead after two periods.

As a result, they’re taking home four of six points as they slipped to 23-26-10 for the season.

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Yesterday at 7:44 PM CST

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (Godofredo A. Vásquez / The Associated Press)

Opinion

Female Olympians take gold in showing class Jen Zoratti 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Whisky fest focuses on Canadian craft distilleries Ben Sigurdson 9 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Talking, listening and learning on the road to reconciliation Niigaan Sinclair 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

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Ottawa won’t say if it penalized Gripen jets in 2021 analysis

Kyle Duggan and Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Ottawa won’t say if it penalized Gripen jets in 2021 analysis

Kyle Duggan and Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:07 PM CST

OTTAWA - National Defence is refusing to disclose how it analyzed competing fighter jet bids after a Swedish media report suggested the evaluation was weighted against Saab's Gripen E.

Citing confidential sources, the Swedish business publication Affarsvarlden reported that Ottawa added a risk coefficient to its analysis that significantly undermined the Gripen's test scores because it was still a new series aircraft.

The report comes after the federal government's internal 2021 scorecard, revealing the topline totals from the analysis, was leaked to Radio-Canada in the fall.

That document shows the American F-35 blowing the Swedish Gripen out of the water, with the F-35 scoring 95 per cent on overall military capabilities while the Gripen scored just 33 per cent.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:07 PM CST

An F-35A Lightning II sits on the runway on the occasion of the first F-35 fighter jets arriving at the Florennes Airbase in Florennes, Belgium, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

No ‘imminent threat’ to Canada amid fallout of U.S. attack on Iran: police

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

No ‘imminent threat’ to Canada amid fallout of U.S. attack on Iran: police

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:54 PM CST

As Canada continues to grapple with the fallout of the ongoing conflict in Iran, a group of police chiefs say there are no imminent threats in Canada or to Canadians.

However, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is warning Canadians to be vigilant, but says there is no current intelligence warning of problems as the airstrikes in Iran enter a second day.

“Experience shows that periods of geopolitical tension can sometimes inspire extremist networks, hate-motivated individuals or proxy-related threat actors to exploit these situations to incite hate-fuelled violence,” the association says. “While there is no specific threat at this time, awareness and early reporting are essential components of prevention.”

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a major attack on the Middle Eastern country that left the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:54 PM CST

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Canada-India Growth and Investment Forum in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Local Iranian community rallies in support of U.S., Israel strikes

Tyler Searle 5 minute read Preview

Local Iranian community rallies in support of U.S., Israel strikes

Tyler Searle 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Iranians — some with tears in their eyes — danced in the streets of Winnipeg Saturday as news broke that the U.S. and Israel launched a major attack overnight, killing the leader of the Islamic regime who has ruled over their home country for decades.

“All the Iranian diaspora and people inside Iran were waiting for this to happen,” said Shervin Shahidian, an Iranian-born man now living in the Manitoba capital.

“I was shaking here, and I was so happy actually for them. They are very hopeful that this is it, that this is going to be the end of this regime and finally they are going to be free and living freely.”

Shahidian described a sleepless night spent waiting for word from his friends and relatives in Iran, who last made contact with him around 3 a.m. after missiles struck key targets associated with the Islamic Republic government.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

TYLER SEARLE / FREE PRESS
Husband and wife Mojtaba Montazeri and Zhaleh Parsaei celebrate the U.S. and Israel military strikes against the Islamic Republic regime in Iran on Saturday.

US intel did not suggest a preemptive strike from Iran before US-Israeli attacks, AP sources say

Michelle L. Price, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ben Finley, Josef Federman And David Klepper, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

US intel did not suggest a preemptive strike from Iran before US-Israeli attacks, AP sources say

Michelle L. Price, Mary Clare Jalonick, Ben Finley, Josef Federman And David Klepper, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:03 PM CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings Sunday that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S., three people familiar with the briefings said.

The administration officials instead acknowledged there was a more general threat in the region from Iran’s missiles and proxy forces, two of the people said. The third person, however, said the administration emphasized that Iran’s missiles and proxy forces posed an imminent threat to U.S. personnel and allies in the region.

The officials did not provide any clarity about what would happen next in Iran after the joint U.S.-Israeli operation, the two people said. All three people insisted on anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.

The information conveyed to the congressional staff contrasts with the message from President Donald Trump. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people," he said in a video message after launching strikes on Iran.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:03 PM CST

The White House is seen Sunday March 1, 2026, in Washington, ahead of the arrival of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Siloam Mission staffers demand CEO be removed one week into the job

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Preview

Siloam Mission staffers demand CEO be removed one week into the job

Scott Billeck 5 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Siloam Mission staff members are calling for the removal of the inner-city shelter’s new CEO and its board chair, as well as an independent review of its executive leadership and board oversight.

They allege CEO Sonia Prevost-Derbecker, who was formally introduced in the role Feb. 20, has made derogatory and demeaning remarks about Indigenous people, individuals struggling with substance use, and the neighbourhood around the 300 Princess St. building. They said they were also concerned she had asked about her personal spending authority.

“Our position remains firm: meaningful governance change is required,” said a recent email from staff to the shelter’s board of directors.

“We believe this includes the removal of (chair Tracey Silagy) from the board and the replacement of Sonia as CEO. Without these steps, confidence cannot be restored.”

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Sonia Prevost-Derbecker

Iran’s supreme leader killed in major attack by US and Israel

Jon Gambrell, Melanie Lidman, Josh Boak And Eric Tucker, The Associated Press 9 minute read Preview

Iran’s supreme leader killed in major attack by US and Israel

Jon Gambrell, Melanie Lidman, Josh Boak And Eric Tucker, The Associated Press 9 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:19 PM CST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday, throwing the future of the Islamic Republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability.

President Donald Trump announced the death hours earlier, saying it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country.

State media reported that the 86-year-old was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran. Satellite photos from Airbus showed that the site was heavily bombed.

His death at his office “showed that he consistently stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities, confronting what officials call global arrogance,” state TV said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:19 PM CST

FILE - In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei listens to a speaker during a meeting with a group of university students in Tehran, Iran, May 28, 2018. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)

Next man up

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Next man up

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

ANAHEIM – After being assigned to the American Hockey League late in training camp, Walker Duehr put his head down and went to work, quietly going about his business as he waited for his number to be called.

Signed by the Jets last summer as an unrestricted free agent to add organizational depth at forward, Duehr has been one of the most consistent performers with the Manitoba Moose this season.

With Vladislav Namestnikov suffering a lower-body injury early in the second period on Friday, Duehr will make his Jets’ debut on Sunday afternoon against the San Jose Sharks.

Duehr — who was signed as a college free agent by the Calgary Flames in April of 2021 after completing his NCAA career with Minnesota State University-Mankato — is a hard-working right-winger who plays a feisty game and has equalled his AHL career high for points with 26 (12 goals) in 39 games with the Moose.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026