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Winnipeg Fringe Festival: 2026 show reviews

Not sure what to see at this year's Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival? All of the Free Press’s reviews will be published here.  Find a show and click to read its review.

City dermatologist penalized again for misconduct

A Winnipeg dermatologist has been allowed to continue practising — albeit with a reduced scope — after pursuing a relationship with a female patient and seeing another patient without a required chaperone at a time when his office was normally closed.

A College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba inquiry panel, in a June 30 disciplinary decision, said it was concerned with Dr. Earl Minuk’s level of contrition and future compliance, while noting his pattern of violating professional boundaries.

A shortage of specialists factored into the decision to allow him to continue to practise.

“CPSM carefully considers the need to protect the public while balancing the need for access to care. Dr. Minuk’s expertise includes managing a condition that can be disfiguring if left untreated,” the college said in a statement Tuesday.

Fringe foot traffic gives Exchange shops boost

This year’s edition of the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival has brought a rise in customer numbers, businesses in the Exchange District say, noting more events like it would also improve the area’s safety.

The increased foot traffic that accompanies the annual downtown event has Más Coffee Co. logging roughly 50 extra customers per day — “a huge increase,” said coffee shop employee Jay Koensgen.

“We’ll have our regulars come in, of course, but since then, Fringe has definitely boosted it.”

Koensgen said he thinks it would make a huge difference for businesses in the area if events like Fringe happened more often. “It’s just good for like economical stuff, environment, community bringing everyone together for a common cause would be really good.”

Sea Bears fade down stretch

The Winnipeg Sea Bears stubbed their collective toe with a golden opportunity at hand on Thursday.

With a chance to seize control of the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Western Conference, the Sea Bears met the moment for three quarters before shutting down in the final frame, dropping a 92-77 decision to the Vancouver Bandits before 6,747 in attendance at Canada Life Centre.

Winnipeg, which dropped to 13-6 — one game ahead of Vancouver (12-7) — still controls its fate to clinch home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs with four games remaining in the regular season schedule, but would’ve increased its margin for error considerably with a win.

The clubs will face each other one last time in the regular season finale in Langley, B.C. on Aug. 2 — a matchup that could feature a winner-take-all scenario.

Firefighter accused of violating protection order jailed for past harassment

A Winnipeg firefighter accused of violating a protection order this week has been jailed two times in the past decade for criminally harassing two different women, court records show.

In each case, Christopher Goethals was allowed to return to his job with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

Goethals, 59, was arrested July 21 after breaching a protection order requiring he not come within 200 metres of a named protected person, police said.

Police allege Goethals was in full uniform and on “modified duties” driving a WFPS fleet vehicle at the time of the offence.