News briefs for Monday, November 14, 2022

The Kaitlyn Lawes team from Winnipeg won the Stu Sells Halifax Classic women’s curling event over the weekend.

Lawes, skipping a foursome with third Selena Njegovan, second Jocelyn Peterman and lead Kristin MacCuish, beat Christina Black of Halifax 5-4 on Sunday.

Black had knocked off the Jennifer Jones crew from Winnipeg in an earlier semifinal clash.

Mackenzie Zacharias skipped the team in Jones’ absence at the event.

Lawes defeated Andrea Kelly of Fredericton in the other semifinal.

A 23-year-old woman has become the city’s latest homicide victim after being found shot on Saturday. It is the city’s 46th homicide this year.

Winnipeg police said on Monday Delany Nora Desmarais, of Winnipeg, was rushed to hospital in critical condition at about 5:20 a.m., but died of her injuries.

Police said the woman was found in the 400 block of William Avenue, suffering a gunshot wound to her upper body.

Nobody has been arrested and police are asking anyone with information to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Police used a Taser on an “agitated” man who broke into a home in Old Tuxedo while the victims were inside.

The incident happened at about 2:30 a.m. today.

The homeowners called police when they heard someone rummaging around their property. The suspect eventually broke a window and entered the home, the Winnipeg Police Service said late Monday morning.

Police said the man was “agitated and uncooperative” when officers entered the home.

The victims were not hurt, and no property was stolen, the WPS said.

A 37-year-old Selkirk man facing break-and-enter charges and remains in police custody.

A driver was killed in a two-vehicle highway crash near the community of Kola.

The collision happened on Provincial Road 257 at about 5:40 p.m. Saturday.

RCMP said a westbound SUV crossed over the road’s centre line and collided head-on with an eastbound semi-trailer.

The driver of the SUV, a 35-year-old woman from Virden, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi-trailer, a 74-year-old Brandon man, was not injured, RCMP said.

 

Taxi companies, the City of Winnipeg’s vehicles-for-hire department and an “action group” that includes several Indigenous women are jointly promising changes to help ensure safe rides for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

The new partners say their initial agreement will:

• Add a new position that ensures a “safe place” to file local complaints over taxis and other rides. It’s not yet clear if that “independent advocate,” who could also help resolve issues, would be hired by the cab industry or the city.

• Add new training for current and future vehicle-for-hire drivers, which would include historical teachings from an Indigenous perspective and sensitivity courses.

• Provide restorative justice options to settle disputes when incidents do occur.

The action group said steps to improve safety are urgently needed after many Indigenous people have reported experiencing violence, racism or other abuse during cab rides.

Steinbach RCMP is searching for a man who tried to rob a bank on Thursday.

The incident happened at the TD Canada Trust on Main Street at about 4:55 p.m. A man entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money.

No weapons were seen, and the man left shortly after. He did not obtain any money.

The suspect is described as tall, with a slim build and blue eyes. He was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, a black tuque, black face covering, and a high-visibility vest. It is believed that he left the scene in a small black vehicle.

Steinbach RCMP is asking anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the attempted robbery to call them at 204-326-4452 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).