New apartment complex rising on E.K. property where fire destroyed unfinished housing development in 2022

Construction of a new 96-unit apartment complex is underway on land in East Kildonan where an unfinished project was destroyed by a massive fire four years ago.

Winnipeg-based Carrington Real Estate purchased the property at London Street and Kimberly Avenue from the former owner while the site was vacant in late 2024.

“We’re happy to take the project on and see it to its completion,” said Jared Carrington, president of Carrington Real Estate.

“We’re really excited to be back in the neighbourhood, and looking forward to bringing another building online and opening up more rental options for residents that want to stay or move to East Kildonan.”

BMO’s First World War soldier memorial now standing guard over lost brothers in arms

A war memorial that stood watch at Portage and Main for more than a century is now in its final resting place, among those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The monument, depicting Canadian First World War soldier Captain Wynn Bagnall — an employee of the Bank of Montreal’s Winnipeg main branch who served in the 58th Field Artillery — was officially rededicated Thursday in the Field of Honour at Brookside Cemetery, marking the 109th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

“This is the final resting place for over 10,000 veterans and service members, making it a deeply meaningful home for this statue,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said at the dedication event. “I’m grateful to the Manitoba Métis Federation, BMO and all our partners for ensuring this piece of our history is preserved for generations to come.”

Gail Conrad Davey of the Royal Canadian Legion said what makes the statue especially powerful is its simplicity — a single soldier standing in quiet reflection.

Children’s DNA confirms death of Indigenous woman missing since 2023

Partial human remains recovered from an alleyway in Winnipeg’s North End last fall have now been linked to an Indigenous woman who disappeared from the neighbourhood nearly three years ago.

‘Challenging time’: Nurses, health-care aides hiring forum draws on hope, experience

An internationally educated nurse, alongside 260 other nurses and health-care aides, registered for a hiring forum put on by the Manitoba government.

Motorboats to return to Clear Lake this summer

Motorboats will be allowed to return to Clear Lake this summer, a year after they were banned amid the discovery of invasive species.

Parks Canada officials said Wednesday watercraft inside the Riding Mountain National Park lake would be permitted under a mandatory tagging program and several other conditions.

“We’re pleased, but we also want to see how it will be implemented,” said Trevor Boquist, spokesperson for the Fairness for Clear Lake advocacy group.

“I would say we want to be part of the conversation of how this will be implemented.”

Carney says Canada not considering sanctioning Israel over Lebanon strikes

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday Canada is not considering sanctions on Israel after it attacked Lebanon this week and appeared to violate a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran just hours before a Tuesday night deadline he had set for a mass bombing campaign in that country.

Despite that agreement, Israel attacked Beirut on Wednesday in a renewed effort to strike the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Those blasts killed at least 203 people and wounded hundreds more in the deadliest day of the war in Lebanon since the latest conflict began on Feb. 28.

Iran has threatened strong responses to the attack on Beirut but Israel and the U.S. have both said Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire deal.

Fireworks crackdown might be in Winnipeg’s future

A plan to crack down on some fireworks displays could be considered next year, amid concerns that many are done illegally.

“There are more fireworks complaints than permits issued for fireworks, leading to an understanding that many fireworks that generate complaints are set off illegally,” writes Lisa Gilmour, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service’s assistant chief of community risk reduction, in a new report.

WFPS received 306 calls about fireworks last year, while 144 consumer and professional permits were approved to set them off.

In Winnipeg, people who set off fireworks without a permit can presently be fined up to $500. To legally use fireworks, individuals must obtain the permit, be at least 18 years old and set off the devices at least 100 feet (30 metres) away from all buildings and trees.

RRC Polytech to continue 19 programs from closing MITT

Long after the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology has closed its doors, 19 programs will continue on at Red River College Polytech.

Details about which programs would be making the move were released Wednesday following a town hall meeting between MITT staff and administrators from both post-secondary schools.

“The 19 programs are really representative of the great work that MITT has been doing and the high value that industry and community place on the program,” Christine Watson, vice-president of academic at RRC Polytech said.

The academic program review, conducted over the last few weeks, was extensive, Watson said. It considered enrolment, industry and labour-market demand and which programs were not being offered at RRC.

Manitoba small-business owners post second-highest rate of concern about rising crime

When Fiona Zhao thinks about the rising cost of safety when running her business, it’s not just dollars and cents — to her, it’s a societal issue.

Zhao began Unique Bunny in 2014 in Winnipeg, an early adopter of South Korean and Japanese skincare retail in the city, before expanding to 10 locations around the country. But Unique Bunny’s longest-running Winnipeg storefront, on Osborne Street, closed after eight years in 2023, with the company citing crime growing out of control in the area.

Data released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business on Wednesday found 61 per cent of surveyed business owners in Manitoba believe crime in their respective communities has increased over the past year — the second-highest rate in the country.

The news doesn’t surprise Zhao.

Manitoba medical examiner echoes Health Canada’s probe into deaths of plasma donors

WINNIPEG - An initial investigation into the deaths of two people who died after donating plasma at a Winnipeg facility has found no links between the two events, the office of Manitoba's chief medical examiner said Wednesday. 

The office completed an autopsy on one of the individuals who donated plasma at a location run by Grifols, a private collection company that pays donors. 

"I can confirm that an autopsy has been completed in one of the deaths. The second case was thoroughly investigated and determined not to require an autopsy based on the established cause and manner of death," executive director Stephanie Holfeld said in an email. 

Health Canada confirmed last month it was doing its own probe after being notified of the deaths. It said the deaths happened in October and January following plasma donations at two locations run by Grifols.