Norwegian conductor looks to past to find hope for future

Rune Bergmann lives in Oslo, but on any given day of the week might find himself in Switzerland, Calgary or Wisconsin, where he’s the music director for three separate organizations.

Filmmakers’ first foray into fiction bares all in Manitoba

Two years after shooting a movie in the wilds near Lac du Bonnet, co-directors James McLellan and Alexandre (Sasha) Trudeau finally unveiled the dramatic feature Hair of the Bear last Thursday in Toronto, with Alexandre’s brother Justin Trudeau on hand to celebrate the première in advance of its opening Friday.

Kids’ book pulled from division shelves over map illustration

A school library-technician is raising concerns about the swift removal of a new children’s book about a Palestinian family preparing to break their fast during Ramadan.

The Louis Riel School Division has taken Maysa Odeh’s Upside-Down Iftar off its shelves in response to a complaint about an illustrated map.

The superintendent says the decision isn’t final, but the case has left one elementary school employee “feeling quite uncomfortable.”

“The process for challenging books is supposed to be quite long and involved,” said the library technician, who agreed to an interview on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution at work.

Restaurants fired up for new food festival

Winnipeg has a new food festival on the menu.

The inaugural Dine and Discover Downtown, hosted by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, runs from March 11 to 22 with 31 neighbourhood restaurants participating.

Kate Fenske, CEO of the BIZ, was enjoying a meal of popcorn shrimp at Capital Grill & Bar on Broadway when the restaurant’s owner, chef Wayne Martin, pitched her on the idea of a food festival focused on Winnipeg’s central neighbourhood.

The pandemic was lingering at the time and local eateries were suffering from a lack of foot traffic.

Mounties say controversial checkpoint on rural highway under investigation

The RCMP says five active investigations are underway into the “blockade” established by First Nations on a provincial road near Bloodvein River First Nation.

“At this time, the Bloodvein RCMP continues to monitor the blockade while communicating regularly with the Bloodvein chief and council as well as First Nation safety officers,” Manitoba RCMP said in a prepared statement Tuesday in response to questions about the controversial checkpoint. It was set up by area First Nations last year to stem the flow of alcohol and drugs into their communities and to prevent the over-harvesting of moose.

The Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association and Manitoba Wildlife Federation have complained about the checkstop, saying it is restricting their rights to travel on provincial roads.

On Monday, the lodge owners and outfitters called on the RCMP and the province to intervene following a Feb. 12 incident. Tobias Becker says he was delayed while travelling to one of his lodge properties by someone who was operating the checkpoint.

Robert De Niro delivers Lincoln’s civility warning at a Carnegie Hall benefit

NEW YORK (AP) — Robert De Niro walked onto Carnegie Hall's stage Tuesday night, unannounced and to loud applause. He didn't make any speeches, at least none of his own. After a career defined by playing gangsters, an avenging taxi driver and a paranoid prize fighter, the Oscar-winning actor recited a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln.

“Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense," De Niro said in an even voice, halting at first, but becoming firmer as he became caught up in words Lincoln delivered in 1838, early in his public life. “Let those materials be molded into general intelligence, sound morality, and in particular, a reverence for the constitution and laws."

De Niro was a featured performer at the 39th annual benefit concert for the nonprofit cultural and educational organization Tibet House US, where others appearing ranged from Laurie Anderson and Elvis Costello to Maya Hawke and Allison Russell. He didn't dwell on current events, or on President Donald Trump, whom he has denounced often fiercely over the past decade. But his reason for giving that particular speech had everything to do with the country today.

De Niro was reading excerpts from Lincoln's “Lyceum Address,” a warning against mob violence that Lincoln delivered to a young man's debating society in Springfield, Illinois. Philip Glass, a co-director of Tuesday night's benefit, used the address as inspiration for his Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln.” He was supposed to premiere his symphony at the Kennedy Center in June, but announced earlier this year that he was calling off the performance, citing Trump's ouster of the center's leadership. The president has made the venue a flashpoint for his battle against so-called “woke” culture.

Filipino restaurant Palm City set to open on McPhillips Street this summer

Palm City, a new Filipino restaurant in Winnipeg, is opening in July at 1021 McPhillips St., adding to the growing number of Filipino-owned eateries in the city.

Owner Michelle Raynes said the idea for the restaurant came after her trip home to the Philippines in 2019. She was inspired by the lively atmosphere of traditional Filipino resto-bars, which have live bands, karaoke and a place where her fellow Filipinos gather and eat.

“It’s my dream to have my own restaurant,” said Raynes.

Growing up, Raynes has always been surrounded with Filipino food. Her family has an eatery and bakery business in the Philippines. Raynes fondly recalls being in high school and selling barbecue in the streets while surrounded with the smell of grilled meat.

Siloam senior staffer worries of mass exodus after CEO hire

Senior leaders at Siloam Mission are warning that a wave of departures could follow if the homeless shelter’s board of directors does not reconsider its decision to hire a new chief executive officer.

“It’s more than a fear,” said Darren Nodrick, Siloam’s director of development since 2022. “There will be a lot of people, good people, smart people, who care a lot about our work, who will leave because they are not aligned with the current direction.”

Nodrick said he felt compelled to come forward after reading a recent Free Press story that put a spotlight on internal strife at the city’s largest homeless shelter. The senior employee said some staff are “scared” to come to work Monday out of fear of reprisal.

Several staff members came forward in a Free Press story Friday alleging newly appointed CEO Sonia Prevost-Derbecker, an Indigenous woman who was formally introduced in the role Feb. 20, made derogatory and demeaning remarks about Indigenous people.

Prestigious ensemble bring sax savvy to GroundSwell program

The members of the Quasar Quartet must get along.

The prestigious Montreal-based saxophone ensemble has been together more than 30 years — no quiet personnel swaps, no loud exodus of unhappy members in the way of so many veteran pop groups.

Instead, they’ve been a driving force behind contemporary Canadian art music. The decorated virtuosos have commissioned and premièred more than 200 works and performed all over the world.

“They are as delightful and generous as individuals, as they are bold and brilliant as musicians,” says Gordon Fitzell, artistic director of GroundSwell, presents contemporary music and performance to local audiences.

Building Blocks, Crumbling Foundation: Child Care in Crisis

A six-part investigation into the state of child care in Manitoba, examining the underlying issues that put kids and families at risk.

Landmarks: Exploring unique and iconic Winnipeg locations

Landmarks is a monthly feature in which columnist Alison Gillmor explores unique and iconic Winnipeg buildings and locations.

Following chart-topping success, legendary Winnipeg musician John Hannah found peace living in obscurity

Long after he fell off the Winnipeg music radar, guitarist and songwriter John Hannah had retained a loyal following.

He had been living in his birth country of Scotland for many years but would frequently come back to Winnipeg to appear at local clubs. For many, he became a bit of a mystery man, a legend with occasional sightings. Although he recently died at age 73 in relative obscurity, Hannah left an indelible mark on Canadian music and on me.

Hannah came into my orbit through bandmate and high school buddy Ralph James. “John was in my Grade 10 class at Grant Park,” James recalls, “and I noticed The Who stickers on his binder.”

Hannah’s family arrived in Canada in 1957. His father was an architect and artist. Hannah had been at a boarding school in Switzerland prior to arriving at Grant Park High School. A huge British rock music fan, Hannah had been playing guitar since age seven. In the fall of 1969, James invited me to a jam at drummer Rod McFayden’s Campbell Street house. Hannah was there and the jam ultimately led to the formation of electric blues band Pig Iron.

Exhibit connects traditional and contemporary Métis beadwork artists

Suspended from the ceiling in Gallery 1C03 at the University of Winnipeg is an octopus bag, created by Métis visual artist Claire Johnston.

Mise en Scene's latest project takes a trip on the road to growing up

Inspiration for Mise en Scene’s new album struck, fittingly, while Stefanie Johnson was on the road.

The pandemic was raging and she was heading up to Gimli, home at the time, when she spotted a church promoting drive-thru confessionals.

“I liked the mixing of metaphors, the idea of fast food and fast cheapness mixed with something vulnerable and secretive and special,” says Johnson, vocalist and guitarist of the local indie-rock outfit alongside drummer Jodi Dunlop.

Drive-Thru Confessional, out March 6, is Mise en Scene’s first full-length release in six years following the band’s 2023 EP, Reality Bites. The record is full of hazy, driving guitar and stories about the long, winding journey of growing up.