News briefs for Tuesday, November 1, 2022

No one was injured after a vacant church caught fire on Andrews Street early Tuesday.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said flames and smoke were coming out of the three-storey building when firefighters arrived at 12:03 a.m.

Firefighters attacked the blaze inside the building and were able to get it under control almost two hours later at 1:47 a.m.

No one was found inside the building and the cause is under investigation.

 

Winnipeg police have released the name of the city’s latest homicide victim.

William Markowski, 47, of Winnipeg, died shortly after being found injured on the ground near a house in the 100 block of Johnson Avenue on Monday at 2:29 a.m.

Police are asking anyone who has information about the slaying to call homicide investigators at 204-986-6508 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Winnipeg police are investigating after someone drove a front-end loader into a convenience store early Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the shop about the incident on the 1300 block of Main Street, near Bannerman Avenue, at 4:21 a.m. Tuesday. The front of the store was heavily damaged and the vehicle had driven away from the area.

The store was closed at the time. Police believe the collision was intentional and they have not yet found the construction vehicle.

Police ask anyone with information that could help investigators to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

A suspect is in custody after a man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed near McPhillips Street on Monday night.

Winnipeg police said on Tuesday officers gave emergency medical care and a chest seal to an injured man on the ground in the 1200 block of Chamberlain Avenue on Oct. 31 at 9:06 p.m.

The man was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Police arrested a male suspect in a nearby residence.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 204-986-6219 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

 

True North Sports and Entertainment will run its 11th Hockey Fights Cancer campaign in November, the company announced in a media release.

The month-long initiative, dedicated to fundraising and building awareness for young cancer patients across the province, will be featured in one Manitoba Moose game (Nov. 13) and one Winnipeg Jets game (Nov. 29).

Proceeds raised through raffle tickets and distinct memorabilia throughout November will be donated to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation and Camp Quality Manitoba.

Winnipeg police say caregivers have reported cannabis-infused candy was distributed to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

Early Tuesday, the Winnipeg Police Service announced it would be hosting an 11:30 a.m. news conference to discuss reports of THC “Nerds” candy that was found in South Tuxedo.

Parents from the neighbourhood have been posting on social media about their concerning findings among their childrens’ treats; the items — which are packaged in bright colours, resembling traditional candies — are not legal in Canada.

Canadian regulations require every legal cannabis product be sold in “plain packaging and labeling that is child-resistant.” 

A man was killed when a vehicle went into a ditch and hit a pole on Highway 52 in the RM of La Broquerie.

The crash happened at about 12:55 p.m. Monday. The lone occupant of the vehicle, a 55-year-old man from the RM, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The vehicle was westbound near Road 40 East when it crashed, Steinbach RCMP said.

Four members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been named as the West Division finalists for yearly awards in the Canadian Football League.

Quarterback Zach Collaros (Most Outstanding Player), receiver Dalton Schoen (Most Outstanding Rookie), left tackle Stanley Bryant (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman) and head coach Mike O’Shea (Coach of the Year) were recognized from the Bombers, who finished first in the CFL with a franchise-best 15-3 record this season.

The Bombers have a finalist in four of the seven year-end awards. Collaros could win a second consecutive most outstanding player award after being feted for a sensational 2021 campaign.

The winners will be announced Nov. 17, during Grey Cup week in Regina.

Kerri Einarson posted another blowout win this morning at the 2022 Pan Continental Curling Championships in Calgary.

The Gimli-based women’s team hammered Kazakhstan’s Angelina Ebauyer 12-1 to improve to 2-0 at the event. It’s a precursor to the world championships next spring.

Team Einarson, with third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, lead Briane Harris, alternate Rachel Brown and coach Reid Carruthers, battles Hong Kong tonight at 8 p.m. In men’s play, Canada’s Brad Gushue (1-0) meets Brazil this afternoon.

Neither game is being televised today.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness has rejoined the team as he continues to recover from COVID.

The 67-year-old was on the ice for Tuesday’s practice. He’s missed eight of nine games so far this year and plans to be behind the bench when the 5-3-1 club begins a three-game homestand on Thursday against Montreal.

Meanwhile, forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defenceman Logan Stanley remain out with lower-body injuries. Ehlers has missed the last seven games and isn’t recovering as quickly as the team hoped. He will see a doctor on Wednesday for further evaluation, and there is no timeline for his return.

Stanley suffered a fractured foot last week and is expected to miss at least 14 days.

Jets forward Mason Appleton left practice early Tuesday due to not feeling well.