Tulips for Amsterdam: Growers hand out free flowers

Portage Avenue stabbing victim stumbled into nearby store for help

A 46-year-old man stabbed on Portage Avenue Wednesday afternoon is in hospital after stumbling into a downtown Dollarama and receiving medical care.

Police say the man had been confronted by several people on the 300 block of Portage and was stabbed with an unknown weapon at about 5:45. He found his way into the nearby Dollarama.

He was rushed to hospital in unstable condition but has since been upgraded to stable, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a Friday morning news release, noting it was unclear whether the attack was random.

Viv Ketchum, who works as the Indigenous ambassador for Impact Security stationed at the Dollarama located at 295 Portage, said she was in the rear of the shop when she heard a loud “groaning and moaning” through the store.

Husband of rival sex club owner accused in attempted bathhouse bombing

A Winnipeg bathhouse owner says he was shocked to learn the man accused of planting a pipe bomb outside his business is married to the owner of a competing sex and lifestyle club.

Christopher Gregoire, who recently took ownership of AQ Sauna, said a live pipe bomb was found by a “heroic patron” outside the club, formerly known as Aquarius Bath House, in the early morning hours of Sept. 11.

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Police Service announced Erik Lymen Olson, 59, was facing multiple charges in the incident. Olson is the husband of Adonis Men’s Spa owner Doug Pomanski.

“This is wild,” Gregoire said after learning of the charges.

Jets land state-of-the-art dressing room after off-season of renovations

It’s not just the on-ice product that’s getting an overhaul this season for the Winnipeg Jets.

The hockey club has also undergone an extreme makeover when it comes to player facilities, including a new state-of-the-art dressing room that now rivals any around the league.

And if you don’t think that matters, you haven’t been paying attention.

“We’ve talked about doing everything first class,” head coach Scott Arniel told the Free Press on Tuesday. “We can’t do anything about the weather, but when people come here, we want them to know we look after them and we look after their families.”

A legacy cast in bronze

Janice Filmon has a new accolade to add to the list of honours she’s received over the years.

The volunteer, philanthropist and former lieutenant-governor of Manitoba was inducted into the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame on Wednesday. A bronze bust of Filmon was unveiled in Assiniboine Park, where it joins 51 others near the Leaf.

“It’s exciting,” Filmon said. “I don’t remember being so surprised in my adult life as I was when I was told that this was happening.”

In addition to serving as Manitoba’s 25th lieutenant-governor from 2015 to 2022, Filmon has chaired the Nellie McClung Foundation, the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation and co-chaired Leadership Winnipeg.

Safety officers responded to three assaults in first 4 1/2 months at downtown Hydro HQ

Manitoba Hydro Place beefed up its security after an employee was assaulted in the main-floor gallery while leaving work in January leading the Crown corporation to close the building to the public for several weeks while it hired and trained institutional safety officers.