News briefs for Thursday, July 20, 2023

Traffic lights at Hwy. 6 and the Perimeter to be shut down 

7:17 AM

The traffic lights at the intersection of the Perimeter Highway and Highway 6, northwest of the city, will be out from 9 a.m. until about 7 p.m. Thursday amid ongoing roadwork.

The provincial highways and infrastructure department said the intersection will be controlled by flagpeople during the shutdown.

The department warned motorists to use caution at the intersection and consider taking different routes to avoid delays.

Missing teen girl found, is safe

12:15 PM

A teenage girl who was missing for more than a week has been found.

Abigail Sinclair, 17, of Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation was reported missing to the Swan River RCMP detachment on July 10.

RCMP said Thursday afternoon that the teen had been “safely located.”

Man arrested for sex assault on bus

12:25 PM

A man has been arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted on a Winnipeg Transit bus last month.

Winnipeg police said Thursday that Scott Bradley Kilmury, 47, of Winnipeg, turned himself in to officers Wednesday.

He has been charged with sexual assault.

Police received a report that a 19-year-old woman was on a bus in the St. Vital area when an unknown passenger touched her inappropriately on her lower body at about 11:15 a.m. on June 17. Police said the woman was not injured.

The man followed the woman off the bus before going in an unknown direction, police said in June.

Court records show Kilmury was convicted of committing an indecent act, fined $350 and sentenced to two years of supervised probation in 2012. He was acquitted of sexual assault and sexual interference in 2009.

Police look for man who exposed himself to children

12:45 PM

Winnipeg police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man who exposed himself to children near an elementary school.

Police said Thursday the children in a park near Donwood School ran away when a man exposed himself to them on Tuesday.

Police said later that day the same suspect on a black mountain bike followed other children and talked inappropriately to them in the Valley Gardens area of the city.

The man is described as Indigenous in appearance, 18 to 20 years old, with a large build, a thin black moustache and black bushy hair. He was wearing a grey shirt and black shorts.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call the child abuse unit at 204-986-3296 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

Manitoba government, physicians reach tentative service agreement

1:47 PM

The Progressive Conservative government is offering Manitoba doctors $268 million more in funding under a new four-year physician services agreement.

Doctors Manitoba is recommending its members ratify the tentative agreement, which includes funding increases for physicians to run their practices, market adjustments and special retention payments in the first year and compounding two per cent annual general increases in the three remaining years.

The agreement also includes a new longitudinal family medicine funding model intended to increase the number of patients doctors keep on their panels and boost the time they spend with clients who have chronic and complex medical needs.

It also offers increased funding for specialty and hospital services; rural and northern retention and recruitment initiatives; a new billing option for family doctors and pediatricians to see patients with more than one medical concern; and a permanent funding model for virtual visits.

“By working together on a common vision with Doctors Manitoba, these unprecedented investments recognize the critical importance of our physicians and will maintain Manitoba’s competitiveness with other jurisdictions while improving access to the vital medical services physicians provide for all Manitobans,” Premier Heather Stefanson said in a release.

First Nation prepares to excavate church basement in search of unmarked graves

2:45 PM

A Manitoba first nation is planning to excavate the basement of a Catholic church in an attempt to recover remains from potential unmarked graves believed to be buried there.

Community members from Minegoziibe Anishinabe, also known as Pine Creek First Nation, have identified 14 locations beneath the church and plan to begin digging on Monday. The excavation may take up to four weeks to complete, local officials said in a release Thursday.

“We understand that over time burial sites may be lost to the natural elements, but to bury remains under a building suggests a dark and sinister intent that cannot be unaddressed,” Chief Derek Nepinak said.

The first nation is located roughly 435 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. The church sits on private land within its boundaries.

The community suspects there may be as many as 57 additional unmarked graves on the church grounds and a nearby schoolyard, the release said.

Federal, provincial government add 3,700 child care spaces at Manitoba schools

2:46 PM

A $180 million investment from the federal and provincial governments will add thousands of child care spaces to post-secondary institutions and public schools in Manitoba.

The federal government will put $132 million toward 2,400 spaces across 36 public schools for children under seven, and $45 million to add 680 spots across six post-secondary institutions. The funding comes from Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

The province will add $3.4 million to create 60 spots at the Université de Saint-Boniface and provide capital for expansion projects for 555 spaces across 24 public schools for kids ages seven to 12. Those projects include two new buildings, 28 stand-alone facilities on school property and six room conversions for public schools and two space renovations, two new buildings and five stand-alone facilities at post-secondary institutions. Another $3.5 million will go to the construction of seven classrooms at post-secondary institutions that offer early childhood education and training.

Projects were chosen through an expression of interest released earlier this year. Timelines will be decided after project details and funding allocations are finalized.

These new spots are part of the province’s promise to add 23,000 new full-time child-care spaces by March 31, 2026.

Thompson man charged in random bear spray attacks

3:17 PM

A Thompson man is in police custody after allegedly spraying a 62-year-old woman with bear spray during an unprovoked attack.

Mounties found the victim suffering from an assault near Thompson Drive around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, RCMP said in a release.

Investigators learned she was targeted at random by a man who bear-sprayed her before running away. Shortly after, officers responded to reports of a similar assault, this time involving a 25-year-old man.

The victim in the second attack provided information that assisted officers in arresting a suspect, RCMP said.

A 20-year-old man from Lac Brochet is facing several charges, including assault with a weapon, uttering threats and failure to comply. He remains in custody.