Former Zappa drummer bringing his big kit to town

Memorable Jets debut for Mercer

It didn’t take Dawson Mercer long to find out what a friendly Manitoba reception looks — and sounds – like.

The newest member of the Winnipeg Jets was taken aback when the public address announcer singled him out on the walk to the ice at Princess Auto Stadium, prompting the crowd to provide a warm ovation for Mercer prior to the 2026 Heritage Classic game with the Montreal Canadiens.

“It kind of caught me off guard when I got introduced when I was walking out there, so that was pretty good to get that welcome,” said Mercer, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils in Friday’s blockbuster deal for Connor Hellebuyck. “Having the Jets flyover was pretty sick. That was pretty memorable also.”

Although he was held off the scoresheet in Sunday’s 2-1 loss, Mercer made a favourable first impression, taking 20 shifts for 15:22 of ice time, recording two shots on goal and a blocked shot while skating alongside captain Adam Lowry and Isak Rosen (who scored the lone goal for the Jets).

Western inland ports form alliance

CentrePort Canada Inc. has formed an alliance with three other inland ports.

President and CEO Carly Edmundson signed a memorandum of understanding in Ottawa on Monday with Global Transportation Hub Authority, located in Regina; Port Alberta, located in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region; and Prairie Economic Gateway, a shovel-ready collaboration between the City of Calgary and Rocky View County.

The newly formed Canadian Inland Ports Alliance will align on major inland port initiatives, strengthening seaport-to-hinterland connectivity and supporting a more resilient, diversified and competitive Canadian trade network, the alliance announced in a news release.

The four ports have been in conversation since the summer, Edmundson told the Free Press on Monday. The alliance responds to growing pressures facing Canada’s trade and transportation network, including congestion, shifting trade partners, supply chain disruptions, marine gateway constraints and the need for stronger inland capacity.

Trump says he expects trade war with Canada to end ‘pretty soon’

OTTAWA - U.S. President Donald Trump says he expects his constantly evolving trade war with Canada to end "pretty soon" as Prime Minister Mark Carney suggests Washington could be moving closer to Ottawa's demands.

Trump told a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday that Canada had been "ripping off" the U.S. on trade and he had no choice but to impose levies on Canadian goods.

He said the trade dispute would be settled "pretty soon" and that Canada was "willing to give us anything at this moment."

At a news conference Monday, Carney was asked if there had been any movement on the trade file in the past week.

Man, 19, killed in semi, passenger vehicle crash north of Emerson

A 19-year-old is dead after a collision Saturday in southeastern Manitoba involving a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle.

RCMP officers from the St-Pierre-Jolys detachment received a call at 8 p.m. about a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of highways 23 and 200, located roughly 35 kilometres north of Emerson, a Monday news release said.

A vehicle with five people inside was travelling north on Provincial Road 200 when it hit a semi-truck travelling east on Provincial Trunk Highway 23, police said. The semi-truck jackknifed in the eastbound lane and tipped over into the ditch. The other vehicle landed facing west in a ditch on PTH 23.

A STARS air ambulance was dispatched, police said.

Winnipeggers unhappy with city leadership, but mostly unwilling to do anything about it

This is not an endorsement (not my job) nor is it a prediction (predictions are for suckers) of what will happen Wednesday in Winnipeg’s mayoral race. It is, however, a call to arms for voters.

Deer Lodge Centre taking over operations of Charleswood adult day program slated for closure

An adult day program set to close at the end of the month in Charleswood has been spared.

The provincial government announced Monday that is ensuring adult day programming for seniors continues in the same Charleswood space after Lions Housing Centres announced Oct. 30 would be its last day.

“All of the participants are going to be able to continue at that same location,” Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in an interview Monday.

The funder — the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority — and the operator, Lions Housing Centres, sent a letter Sept. 16 to the 107 day club members and their families informing them of the closure without providing a reason. The letter said the WRHA was working closely with partners to explore options for current participants and individuals on the waiting list and that a home care case co-ordinator would contact them with options to try to meet their needs.