Good morning!
Your forecast: Right on cue, the weather turns wonderful just as the work week begins. After a horrible weekend that included torrential rains, unseasonably low temperatures and winds gusting to 80 km/h, the sun and warmth return today with a high of 19 C under a mostly sunny sky. And things get even better as the week continues, with plenty of sunshine each day and daytime highs ranging from 21 C on Tuesday to 26 C on Friday. Environment Canada is calling for a gorgeous final weekend of August – that’s a total jinx move right there. READ MORE
In case you missed it
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FilesDr. Gary Kobinger, chief of special pathogens at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg, says its not entirely known how the Ebola vaccine works.
Top scientist leaving city: One of the country’s top medical researchers is leaving the Winnipeg-based National Microbiology Laboratory to take a job in Quebec City. Dr. Gary Kobinger, who led the work to develop the Ebola drug ZMapp with a team of researchers in Winnipeg, will become director of the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases at Laval University. He vacates the position at the Winnipeg lab in June. READ MORE
Storm to blame for dog’s death: A woman escaped with her life after her RV was apparently hit by lighting early Saturday morning in Gimli, but her little dog wasn’t as lucky. A woman awoke to find her curtains on fire and jumped out the window. Her dog, however, died of smoke inhalation. The neighbours tried to get the dog out but were turned back by the fire and smoke.
Weather ruins cycling event: The wet and windy weekend weather played havoc with the annual Biking to the Viking charity ride for multiple sclerosis. Organizers worried that crosswinds off Lake Winnipeg and debris from the storm along the highway from Stonewall to Gimli posed a threat for participants, and shuttles were dispatched to pick up riders who were already on the route on Saturday. Then Day 2 of the event on Sunday was cancelled. To help the event attain its fundraising goal of $500,000, visit msbike.ca. to donate. READ MORE
Up next
Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESSConservative leader Stephen Harper
Leaders on the campaign trail: Prime Minister Stephen Harper begins the day with a question-and-answer session in Drummondville, Que., with representatives of the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce and the Drummondville Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Meanwhile, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has a jam-packed day of campaign events in Toronto and neighbouring Mississauga, while Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has campaign rallies in the Ontario communities of Belleville and Peterborough.
Bloody good cause: Canadian Blood Services and Pride Winnipeg join forces today to hold an unusual event. They’re hosting an “ally blood donor clinic,” in which eligible individuals donate blood on behalf of male friends who are prohibited from donating because a controversial Health Canada policy that prevents any men who have sex with men from donating blood for five years after their last sexual encounter with another man, regardless of whether or not they practice high-risk sexual activity. People who want to protest the policy by giving a pint can attend the clinic at 777 William Ave. from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. READ MORE
Around the water cooler
ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESSteven Sabados, left, and Chris Hyndman in 2008.
Sad ending for show: Steven Sabados says he won’t be returning to the popular CBC-TV show Steven and Chris, after his husband and show co-host Chris Hyndman died earlier this month in Toronto. A cause of his death hasn’t been determined, but there is no criminal investigation. “It’s impossible for me to even imagine continuing the show without him,” Sabados said, in a statement posted on the show’s Facebook page. READ MORE
Don’t judge book by its courier: McNally Robinson has the wheels in motion to deliver the goods to their customers — literally. The book seller has a new service available – same-day or next-day delivery service via bicycle courier. McNally Robinson has hooked up with National Cycle Courier to have books purchased online delivered anywhere in the city.
Trending now
Greg Allen / Invision / The Associated Press FilesTracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan: The 46-year-old Saturday Night Live alumnus married his fiancée Megan Wollover, 28, on Sunday night, 14 months after he was critically injured in a highway crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that killed his close friend. Morgan and Wollover have a two-year-old daughter together. NBC has announced Morgan will guest host SNL on Oct. 17.
#HugoAwards: Nominations for the high-profile sci-fi and fantasy awards were dominated this year by slates put forth by two small conservative groups, after recent years when a more diverse range of authors became Hugo winners. The Hugos are fan-voted awards, and on the weekend a voting pool 65 per cent larger than usual chose to award “No Award” in many categories with only slate nominees. The award rules are being changed to prevent future slates from gaming the shortlists.
On this date
On August 24, 1914: The Manitoba Free Press reported that French and British troops were fighting German forces in Belgium, the first major conflict of the war, an engagement involving two million men. The Russians advanced into Prussia. In western Manitoba the wheat crops were good. Around 75,000 people turned out in Winnipeg to bid farewell to nearly 3,000 troops from Western Canada heading to Europe. Japan declared war on Germany, and Italy and Austria were on the verge of war. Despite a loss to Duluth, the Winnipeg Maroons still led the northern baseball league.
|
