The Wrap: Remembering Tina Fontaine, highway crash investigations, doping at the Downs, Ojibwa horses
Plus: The Manitobans behind the scenes at the Olympics

Good evening. Here’s a look at what our newsroom has been working on today:

'The community has changed... but not the systems'

The 2014 killing of 16-year-old Tina Fontaine created massive shock waves across the country, leading to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, along with grassroots local groups such as Drag the Red and the Bear Clan.

“I think it woke us up,” says one Indigenous leader. “It woke up the nation and showed that this is a real epidemic and that something must be done, and leadership must be involved.”

Malak Abas looks at what has changed — and what hasn’t — in the decade that has elapsed, and Niigaan Sinclair expresses gratitude for what Tina’s too-short life gave to all of us.

Malak Abas:

A decade of distress, determination, dismay

Tina Fontaine’s slaying 10 years ago helped to bring the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls into focus; the anguish and anger that followed produced calls to action, but little else Read More

Niigaan Sinclair:

Honoring Tina Fontaine’s legacy in Canada’s journey towards reconciliation

When history books are written, Tina will be recorded as one of the most important contributors to change in this community’s — and, indeed, Canada’s — path. Here is a short list of what Tina’s life gave to all of us. Read More

Get ready to savour Manitoba's freshest summer flavours

'We could have done more to prevent these crashes, and we have not done that yet'

Unlike in the United States, where the National Safety Transportation Board is immediately on the scene, mass casualty investigations on Canadian highways are left primarily to local law authorities.

It’s one of the most critical safety oversight issues experts say need to be addressed.

Matthew Frank talks to experts on changes that could help prevent future tragedies on Canadian highways.

Matthew Frank:

Highway bus safety at a dead end

In the wake of mass-fatality collisions, jurisdictional disparities have hampered implementation of vital changes and stalled comprehensive crash investigations that could help prevent similar tragedies Read More

'Sometimes miracles do happen'

A small cohort of Manitobans is on the periphery of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, lending their expertise as officials, coaches and support staff to keep athletes on track and the Games marching towards Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Danielle da Silva talks to three of them.

Danielle Da Silva:

Manitobans savour Olympic magic in support roles

‘Top, top, top honour’ for senior officiating at raucous table tennis medal match; referee witnesses world-record pole vault; athletic therapist ‘can’t wait to do it again’ Read More

'It's a mystery'

Jerry Gourneau, a five-time trainer of the year at Assiniboia Downs, is locked in a hotly contested legal battle with Manitoba’s racing regulator.

Gourneau is appealing one of the harshest punishments at the local track — a six-month suspension and $10,000 fine — after four of his horses failed a drug test.

Mike McIntyre digs into what the ruling means for Gourneau and for racing at the Downs.

Mike McIntyre:

Assiniboia Downs trainer’s case enters homestretch

A Hall of Fame horseman accused of serious wrongdoing is now locked in a hotly-contested legal battle with Manitoba’s racing regulator which recently lowered the boom on him. Read More

'One of the rarest horse breeds on Earth'

A petite black stallion named Chase is a rare breed several times over.

He’s one of fewer than 200 Ojibwa horses left in the world, and one of about two dozen stallions charged with keeping the endangered lineage alive.

Now a Winnipeg stable has joined a decades-long project among small, independent breeders and family farms to bring the Ojibwa horse back from the brink.

Eva Wasney:

Stallion named Chase in a race to save Ojibwa horse breed

Efforts to bolster lineage is a labour of love, living lesson in reconciliation Read More

Olympics

The Canadian Press:

Canada enters final two days in Paris looking to set new Olympic medal mark

PARIS – Canada will head into the final two days of competition of the Paris Olympics with a chance to make history. A silver medal in beach volleyball from Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson to cap competition on Friday gave Canada 24 medals at the Games. That tied the number Canada won three years ago in Tokyo, which set a record for a non-boycotted Games. Read More

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press:

Boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics marked by scrutiny over her sex

PARIS (AP) — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has won a gold medal Friday at the Paris Olympics, emerging a champion from a tumultuous run at the Games where she endured intense scrutiny in ... Read More

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press:

Canada’s gold medal in men’s 4×100 relay came with a warning

PARIS - Aaron Brown tried to warn everybody. But they didn't listen. Canada's men's 4x100-metre relay team claimed Olympic gold on Friday night at Stade de France in a ste... Read More

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press:

Canadian sprint canoeists Katie Vincent, Sloan MacKenzie win bronze medal

PARIS - Katie Vincent has had two very different Olympic experiences. Now she has two Olympic bronze medals, too. Vincent, from Mississauga, Ont., and Sloan MacKenzie of W... Read More

Cassidy McMackon, The Canadian Press:

‘Nothing to hang her head about’: Hometown pride after N.S. Olympian falls short

HALIFAX - It was a bittersweet afternoon for the people of Liverpool, N.S., on Friday after local athlete Sarah Mitton fell short in her bid to be the first Canadian woman on the Olympi... Read More

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press:

Great Scott! Retiring broadcaster Russell expecting emotional finale in Paris

PARIS – The closing ceremony of an Olympic Games always packs an emotional punch for longtime CBC broadcaster Scott Russell. The Paris finale at the Stade de France on Sunday will be no exception. It’s the 17th and final Olympics for Russell, who will retire next month after nearly 40 years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “I get very emotional about the Olympics and to me, with good reason,” Russell said. “I hope that my passion has been reflected to Canadians and that they understand that I really believe in the Olympics and believe that they’re important in the history […] Read More

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press:

Ahead of Olympic women’s boxing title bouts, IOC president again defends Imane Khelif and Li Yu-ting

PARIS (AP) — As Algerian boxer Imane Khelif prepared to fight for an Olympic gold medal on Friday, IOC president Thomas Bach again defended her right to compete in the women’s competiti... Read More

Sylvie Corbet, The Associated Press:

Like Noah Lyles, Olympians with COVID are competing in Paris. Restrictions are a thing of the past

PARIS (AP) — Many hoped the Paris Olympics would be the post-COVID Games. Instead they seem to be the “who cares about COVID” Games. Noah Lyles won a bron... Read More

Thomas Adamson And Megan Janetsky, The Associated Press:

Olympians are turning to OnlyFans to fund dreams as they face a ‘broken’ finance system

PARIS (AP) — Dire financial straits are leading droves of Olympic athletes to sell images of their bodies to subscribers on OnlyFans — known for sexually explicit content — to sustain t... Read More