City taking steps to reduce speeding in 30 km/h school zones

A pair of 30-kilometre-per-hour school zones known as speeding hot spots are getting safety upgrades this summer amid a citywide probe into posted speed limits.

Winnipeg school officials were recently briefed on hot spots for collisions and photo-radar tickets issued near elementary buildings between the months of September and June, when the maximum limit drops.

“There’s no cookie-cutter kind of solution, unfortunately,” said Denae Dorge, the city’s road safety outreach co-ordinator.

“You need to have lots of different tools in your toolbox and also, work with the families that attend your school.”

Landmark Indigenous languages office under audit, $10M spent hosting conference

The federal government has ordered a financial audit into transactions and activities at a landmark Indigenous languages office after receiving anonymous complaints.

Canadian Heritage didn’t elaborate on the allegations against the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, an arm’s-length office set up five years ago after it was recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“Canadian Heritage has made the commissioner of Indigenous languages aware that we have received anonymous allegations and has contracted an independent third-party firm to conduct a special examination under the Indigenous Languages Act,” the department said in an email.

It said the review can look at whether the office’s “books, records, systems and practices” are complying with standards in the legislation. It didn’t give a timeline on when it might be complete.

Suspect in King Edward hostage situation dies from gun shot injuries

A 34-year-old man has died after being shot by Winnipeg police during a hostage situation Friday.

The man fled after police attempted to stop his vehicle and execute a warrant Friday morning, after he had rammed his car into the police vehicle before driving off. Police said the man had outstanding warrants and was reported to have a gun.

He was later seen in the King Edward neighbourhood and after a foot pursuit, police say he broke into a residence on the 400 block of King Edward Street. At 11:09 a.m., the man left the home and told first responders two teenage girls were being held hostage by the suspect.

One girl was rescued through a window, and after a fire was set inside the house, the second teenager was rescued. The suspect then left home brandishing a firearm and police shot him.

Crown corps’ hybrid work options ending this fall

Manitoba Public Insurance managers and directors who are allowed to work remotely some days will be required in the office full time starting Oct. 5.

President and CEO Satvir Jatana announced changes to the Crown corporation’s hybrid work program in an email to MPI’s workforce Thursday.

“Being in the office creates opportunities for quick conversations, faster alignment and more effective problem-solving,” Jatana wrote in the email, which was obtained by the Free Press.

“This is harder to replicate in a hybrid environment. Improving our ability to execute will be supported by more in-person collaboration.”

Winnipeg acknowledges ‘generous, philanthropic’ family with honorary road renaming

A stretch of Panet Road has been honorarily named after long-time local business Princess Auto.

Naming Panet Road from Nairn Avenue to Mission Street — along the former Princess Auto location and the new, expanded flagship centre will open Tuesday — “Princess Auto Way” was one way to recognize the generations-long family business and its impact on the city, said Mayor Scott Gillingham.

Gillingham said he reached out to Princess Auto with the idea for the nomination.

“It’s not just the fact that they’ve been a key business family in their community,” Gillingham said at an event at the new Princess Auto at 500 Panet Road Saturday.

Trucking firm linked to fatal crash failed to comply with safety laws: province

Conquer Transport, the firm whose truck is connected to a fatal crash near Brandon, had its safety certificate pulled by Manitoba in 2021 for “ongoing deficiencies in safe operation and non-compliance with highway safety laws,” the provincial government said Friday.

A Conquer semi-truck blew through a stop sign on Highway 110 at Richmond Avenue East Wednesday, hitting an SUV driven by a 49-year-old female driver who had the right of way, Brandon police said. The woman, who worked at a nearby meat-packing plant, was pronounced dead at the scene. Brijpal Panwar, 35, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.

Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor said Thursday the truck shouldn’t have been operating in Manitoba, but after its certificate was yanked here, the company was given a safety certificate from the Alberta government.

On Friday, a Manitoba government spokesman said the safety certificate was removed in late 2021 for non-compliance with highway safety laws and truck-specific regulations. The Winnipeg-based business is listed as permanently closed online.

After years of living in encampments, Lawrence is slowly adjusting to life with a roof, instead of a tarp, over his head

Just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life in early 2020, Lawrence had a steady job, reliable income and a roof over his head. Within months, it was all gone.

After burning through his savings to keep paying rent, the 58-year-old from Sagkeeng First Nation spent the next 4 1/2 years homeless, living in an encampment along Waterfront Drive.

“At first, I couldn’t believe it,” he said while sitting in an office chair inside a low-barrier apartment complex in the city’s West End. “I was sitting at a drop-in centre trying to figure out ‘how did I end up here?’ It was too quick for me to absorb at the time.”

Lawrence, who didn’t want his last name used, has now been housed for three months through the province’s Your Way Home strategy, which aims to move roughly 700 Manitobans from encampments into stable housing.

North End puts its best foot forward with Culture Fest

Fostering friendship is one of the most important parts of Melanie McKay’s day.

At the Winnipeg Indigenous Friendship Centre, she serves as a program co-ordinator, where she organizes bingo nights, drop-ins for elders and craft sessions. She spent Saturday afternoon at the third annual North End Neighbours Culture Fest, where a dozen organizations serving the neighbourhood gathered at the Ukrainian Labour Temple to share food, watch performances and celebrate each other.

“These are the people that we represent, and these are the people that we want to help out,” McKay said Saturday. “I think being here shows that we’re out there in the community, and we’re willing to help any way we can.”

The Indigenous Friendship Centre began operating out of 410 McGregor St., May 1, while they renovate their former home at 45 Robinson St. They’re holding an open house June 5 in hopes of letting more people know their resources are available to the North End, regardless of their cultural background.

Three political leaders weigh in on western alienation and the spectre of a fall independence referendum in Alberta

The Free Press spoke with three Manitoba political veterans from the era who reflect on Charlottetown’s ripple effects and where Manitoba and Canada may be headed as another separatist movement brews.

A cache to crow about: Collector feathers nest with just about anything related to Robin’s Donuts

Ronald Moore’s personal association with Robin’s Donuts began when he was a grade schooler.