LEADING OFF: Betts has ailing hip, Mattingly nears return

Missing the days of yore in Alberta

EDMONTON — Outside the Alberta legislature, a sea of deep blue flags snaps in the stiff October wind, held aloft by a crowd of about 1,100 people that has gathered for one last hype-up hurrah together before Monday’s referendum. Most of the flags bear the province’s crest; many are emblazoned with a variety of slogans, all of them defiant.

“Send A Message to Ottawa.” “Live Free or Die.” “We’re Done — Alberta First.”

On the steps of the grand Beaux-Arts building, which looks not unlike Manitoba’s, separatist influencer Adam Derges, host of a podcast called The Army of Great Men, is giving a speech. Some people talk a lot about the costs of separation, he says, but not enough about the rewards. Or: the values of the people gathered here are not in line with rest of Canada.

“I don’t know about you, but I miss the good ol’ days,” he declares.

Backstreet Boys’ 12-show Toronto run offers millennials a ticket to simpler times

When Chelsea Smith heard the Backstreet Boys were coming to Toronto, she had a simple message for the five men who soundtracked her childhood.

“Here's my credit card, take all my money.”

The 35-year-old Vancouver fan wasn’t bluffing. Having already travelled to Las Vegas to see her teenybopper crushes, she's now preparing to fly across the country for two Toronto concerts, spending roughly $600 on tickets alone.

And she's hardly the only millennial willing to pay a tidy sum to party like it’s 1999.

New twist in Hellebuyck saga, suspension ends Friday

Connor Hellebuyck has played the reverse Uno card.

What we don’t know is if he has any intention of coming back to friendly Manitoba or if this is simply the latest attempt to put the Winnipeg Jets feet to the flames in an effort to move him to an American market.

Prior to puck drop on Saturday afternoon, when the Jets were getting set to host the Carolina Hurricanes, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time Hart Trophy winner informed the organization he wanted to return on Oct. 2 and that his holdout has now shifted to a team-imposed suspension that can officially come to an end Friday.

The Jets were able to extend his suspension (for failing to report to training camp) because of a clause in the collective bargaining agreement, Article 15.13, subsection (c)(v), which reads: “If a player who has not received permission to be absent from training camp returns to the club, he shall be subject to a disciplinary suspension of reasonable length.”

Manitoba premier offers condolences after CFB Wainwright tragedy

Premier Wab Kinew said Manitoba “stands ready to help in any way we can” and will lower its flags to half-mast after a large fire tore through a Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta. Saturday, resulting in four confirmed deaths and dozens of serious injuries.

“This is a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones, those who were injured and everyone affected,” Kinew said in a statement Sunday.

“We know there are families waiting for news about their loved ones, and our thoughts are with them, too.”

Kinew said he was in touch with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Defence Minister David McGuinty to offer Manitoba’s assistance and share condolences.

Half Pints Brewing out of bankruptcy, back on shelves

A pioneer of Winnipeg’s craft brewing scene has reopened under new ownership.

MMF eyes Brandon for expansion of its real estate holdings

The Manitoba Métis Federation is ramping up its Brandon presence and it’s eyeing buildings downtown.

MMF President David Chartrand said the federation has placed a $2 million offer on two sites Assiniboine Credit Union owns.

It submitted an offer last week for a three-storey office and former branch at 220 10th St., and 1020 Princess Ave., Chartrand said.

Assiniboine Credit Union didn’t respond to an interview request by end of day Saturday.