True north, strong and free Thousands gather at the Manitoba legislature to show what it means to be Canadian By: Photos by John Woods, Free Press Posted: 7:51 PM CDT Sunday, Apr. 6, 2025 Last Modified: 8:07 PM CDT Sunday, Apr. 6, 2025

Mayor’s flip-flop a welcome effect of campaign

Trees may not have a vote, but they are poised to become among the biggest winners from this fall’s municipal elections in Winnipeg.

At the start of the week, things didn’t look good for Winnipeg’s tree population. City staff issued a report recommending city council reduce the 2026 urban forest renewal program and divert the money to improvements to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s Journey to Churchill exhibition.

The recommendation was triggered by a directive from the provincial government to take the same sum of money out of a strategic infrastructure fund it provides to the city to support the conservancy exhibit. This left the city with a $1.2-million hole in its infrastructure program. Staff felt the money could come from the tree-planting budget.

Mayor Scott Gillingham — who is running for re-election this fall — initially endorsed the recommendation when it was put before the executive policy committee (which he chairs) earlier this week. Seventy-two hours later, however, Gillingham was having second thoughts.

Returner Vaval, QB Brown lead Bombers past Argos in season’s most complete effort

It was the loudest Princess Auto Stadium has been all season.

Moments after fumbling a fourth quarter punt that put the Toronto Argonauts in scoring range, Winnipeg Blue Bombers returner Trey Vaval bounced back in a big way.

Argos kicker Lirim Hajrullahu misfired on a 40-yard field goal with nine minutes remaining and Vaval made the visitors pay by racing 129 yards to the opposite end zone to boost the home side’s lead to 29-14.

Vaval, who had four return touchdowns in his sensational rookie campaign last year, entered the contest ranked first in the CFL in punt-return yards and second on kickoffs — the only thing he was missing was his first score.

Mayoralty race off to glacial start

Just a few months before voters select their next city council, Winnipeg’s mayoral race has barely begun.

Mayor Scott Gillingham, who registered his re-election bid May 1, has yet to share a single promise about what he would do if re-elected.

That decision could reflect several circumstances of this particular race, including the current slate of mayoral candidates, according to a local political expert.

“It could be (Gillingham’s) just keeping his powder dry … I think he’s likely waiting to see what shakes out for his opponents, if there will be somebody of a higher profile, like a Kevin Klein, or somebody from the right or left of him (entering the race),” said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba.

Winnipeg high school football coach subject of hazing investigation

Manitoba’s independent teacher commissioner is investigating the head coach of the Grant Park Pirates football program amid allegations of team hazing.

The AAAA varsity team is at the centre of a probe into allegations student-athletes who played for Doug Kovacs during the 2025-26 school year drew blood while carrying out a locker room ritual.

Multiple sources confirmed Kovacs was put on leave from Grant Park High School in the spring in response to a complaint about his coaching style.

“There’s a lot of different red flags here,” said one parent of a football player who was recently contacted about the case by the office of commissioner Noni Classen.

True north, strong and free

Thousands gathered in front of the Manitoba legislature Sunday afternoon to celebrate what it means to be Canadian. Free Press staff photographer John Woods was at the Rally for Canada event to capture the spirit of the event.

Bombers go the distance, get under Argos’ skin to secure win

Now that looked like Winnipeg Blue Bombers football.

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Blue and Gold finally sent their droves of paying customers home happy with a 30-21 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on Friday.

“Osh was on it all week that we had to have a great three-phase game and tonight we did that,” said left tackle Stanley Bryant.

“If we can do that each and every week, we will be a great team.”