News briefs for Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Manitoba Health has expanded COVID-19 booster eligibility to children aged five to 11 who had their last shot six months ago.

The third dose of the children’s Pfizer vaccine “is particularly important for children with an underlying medical condition that places them at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19,” a Wednesday news release reads.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization suggests children recently infected with COVID-19 wait three months afterward before getting their third shot, or two months for their first or second shot.

Parents can use the online vaccine finder to locate shots at regional vaccine sites, public health offices, pharmacies, and medical clinics. They can also book an appointment by calling 1-844-626-8222, particularly if they have multiple children to schedule shots for, or if their child needs multiple vaccines including other than for COVID-19.

The provincial government plans to shutter the COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the RBC Convention Centre in mid-September.

The immunization clinic opened in January 2021 and was the primary  site for the province’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

A new regional vaccination clinic will open at 1680 Notre Dame Ave. in mid-September to ensure ongoing accessibility of COVID-19 shots. The facility was previously used as a pop-up clinic in the spring of 2021.

The capacity of the facility is similar to the RBC Convention Centre, the province said, and can provide up to 1,700 immunizations a day.

The first appointments will be available in mid-September.

The province announced today $61 million to restore Highway 75 from Morris to Ste. Agathe.

The upgrades will improve the efficiency and reliability of Canada’s international and inter-provincial trade flows and make travel on Highway 75 safer for everyone, the province said in a press release. Work will include 27.7 kilometres of surface reconstruction, as well as shoulder, drainage and intersection improvements. The surface will be reconstructed using concrete pavement.

The province plans to advertise tenders for the two projects in the spring of 2023. Both projects are expected to be completed in the fall of 2023, it said.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without receiver Greg Ellingson and returner Janarion Grant when they take on the Calgary Stampeders Thursday night at IG Field.

Ellingson injured his foot Sunday, and hadn’t practised the rest of the week. Grant was a participant in the first couple of workouts but missed Tuesday.

The Bombers (9-1) have a chance to earn a series sweep against the Stampeders (6-3), after winning the first two games of the season.

Winnipeg police hate crimes investigators are again asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect accused of spray-painting hate symbols, including swastikas, on Pembina Highway last year.

The rash of vandalism hit nine businesses and a church along the route between midnight and 4 a.m. on July 22 last year.

Police are again releasing images and surveillance footage of the suspect in the hopes of identifying him. He appears to be in his 20s or 30s, police said. He was wearing lime green shorts, a dark plaid shirt and a red-and-white cap with a black gym bag slung across his body.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call major crimes at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

A man found suffering severe injuries on the Osborne Street Bridge’s sidewalk a week-and-a-half ago has died, triggering a homicide investigation.

The man was found on the bridge’s east sidewalk with severe trauma to his upper body at about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 13. Sydney Frederick Chubb, 28, was taken to hospital in critical condition and died on Sunday, making his death the 33rd of 34 homicides in Winnipeg this year.

Major crimes investigators are asking for help from anyone who was walking or driving in the area at the time of the incident. They’re also requesting any surveillance footage from nearby homes or from motorists with dash cameras.

Anyone with information can call investigators are 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

A serious assault at a home in the area of Woodcrest Drive on Monday morning has left a man in hospital in guarded condition.

Winnipeg police responded to the home at about 11:30 a.m., where they found the victim in critical condition. Officers arrested a man in his 30s and turned the investigation over to the major crimes unit.

Major crimes investigators believe the same accused was involved in a residential break-in on Sunday in the same area.

Police say the accused has been charged with multiple offences and detained in custody, but have not revealed what the charges are or whether a weapon was used in the assault.

No one was injured after a fire broke out at the Behavioural Foundation of Manitoba Wednesday.

Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service said when they responded at 8:50 a.m. to the fire, they found heavy smoke coming from the two-storey combined residential and educational facility that treats people with addictions.

All the occupants in the building got out safely before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters say it appears to have been an accidental electrical fire and the extent of the damage is not known.