“Dumpster fire” added to dictionary

Cross-Canada tour back on track for cyclist whose bike was stolen in Winnipeg

A man whose cycling trip across Canada came to a halt in Winnipeg — when his bike was stolen — can resume his bucket-list journey after help from local cyclists.

Fergus Watt, 69, has always wanted to bike across the country, and now that he’s retired, he decided to start pushing pedals toward his goal. However, on Tuesday afternoon his bike — a Norco Search C-Apex-AXS, specially purchased for the trip — was stolen from outside Mountain Equipment Co-op on Portage Avenue.

“You just feel a bit gutted,” said Watt, who lives in Ottawa. “The first thing I said to myself was ‘I’m so screwed,’ but I used a different word.”

Watt said the theft was quick. He went into the store, remembered he had left his phone mounted on the bike, and went outside. However, by the time he returned, all that remained was the cut lock and his helmet. He also had his passport and phone stolen, as they were on his bike. The total cost of the theft is about $6,000. On the plus side, his clothing and camping gear are safe.

Mayor flip-flops on cutting tree-planting budget after intense criticism

Public opposition has prompted Mayor Scott Gillingham to change his mind about chopping $1.2 million from the city’s tree-planting program.

Carney’s pick for Manitoba senator called a curious choice

Manitoba’s newest representative in the Senate only moved to the province in 2019.

Unlike former Manitoba Senate candidates, Geeta Tucker hasn’t known this province for very long — and that’s raised the eyebrows of some experienced politicians and academics.

Retired Manitoba senator Don Plett said he hadn’t heard of Tucker until this week. The Conservative said he has nothing against her personally, but he questioned whether she knows Manitoba well enough to represent its interests in the chamber of sober second thought.

“I think it is imperative that you have strong roots to the region you’re representing,” Plett said Wednesday.

Paramedic petition fails to change folk fest first aid procedures

Paramedics will not be stationed at Winnipeg Folk Festival this year despite a petition calling on the summer festival to enhance its on-site medical services.

RM says flood fight worsened by Bell MTS dead zone

Officials in St. Lazare had no option but to drive to more than 20 properties to warn people about impending flooding because there’s no cell service in the area in western Manitoba.

The 22 families who live north of the Qu’Appelle Bridge are isolated with absolutely no cell service, said Trish Huberdeau, the CAO of the Rural Municipality of Ellice-Archie, on Wednesday.

“We were able to physically drive out and talk to people before the floodwater came,” she said.

“The absence of dependable cellular coverage in our municipality is far more than an inconvenience — it is a significant public safety concern,” Huberdeau said.

Disc drive: petition seeks to reverse Sony decision to stop producing physical discs

Atop a counter displaying vintage video games, a sign urges passersby to petition Sony Group Corp.

The Japanese multinational company’s PlayStation system discs aren’t retro — yet. But they will be in 2028, when Sony plans to stop producing the physical products.

Its games will be sold online or in “digital formats” at shops, including as codes.

Winnipeg-based independent chain PNP Games has outfitted its St. Vital area store with signs of protest. It’s also launched an online petition — one garnering more than 231,000 signatures in roughly a week.