News briefs for Sunday, November 2, 2025

Crews put out four weekend fires

9:25 PM

Crews extinguished four fires over the weekend.

The first was at a house on the 600 block of St. Mary’s Road. Crews were sent there shortly after 7:20 p.m. Saturday and declared the fire under control within 30 minutes.

Later, as the Free Press previously reported, firefighters were sent to the area of Sherbrook Street and Westminster Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. They declared a fire there under control about 40 minutes later.

Late Saturday night, crews were sent to a house on the 1100 block of Alexander Avenue shortly after 11:30 p.m. and declared the fire under control at 12:15 a.m.

On Sunday, crews were sent to a strip mall on the 900 block of Corydon Avenue at 7:10 a.m. and declared the fire under control 15 minutes later.

The fires are under investigation.

Police warn of high-risk offender’s release from Milner Ridge

9:14 PM

Police are warning the public about a sex offender who was released from jail Sunday and is expected to live in Winnipeg.

Leslie Wayne Oliver Mercredi, 33, is considered a high risk to reoffend in a sexual manner against all children, particularly girls, the Manitoba integrated high-risk sex offender unit said in a news release Sunday night.

His criminal record includes convictions for sexual assault, sexual interference, assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and numerous breaches of probation and recognizance orders.

“Mercredi commits sexual offences by threatening victims or plying them with drugs or other inducements,” the release said.

Mercredi — also known as Leslie Wayne Brightnose and Leslie Mercredi — was released from Milner Ridge Correctional Centre after serving a sentence for two counts of failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance order. He was convicted of those offences on March 21.

“Any form of vigilante activity or other unreasonable conduct directed at Mr. Mercredi will not be tolerated,” the release said.

High winds causing power outages

1:44 PM

High winds are knocking down power lines in southern Manitoba, causing outages for thousands of residents.

More than 4,000 Manitoba Hydro customers were experiencing power outages across southern Manitoba as of early Sunday afternoon, Hydro posted on social media. Hundreds in south Winnipeg were also affected, including in Minnetonka and the Pembina Strip. Hydro said about 1,900 customers in those areas were experiencing outages.

See the outage map here. 

Sherbrook Street fire under investigation

1:04 PM

A fire that broke out near Sherbrook Street and Westminster Avenue on Saturday night is under investigation.

Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Pat Saydak said the fire was reported at about 8:30 p.m., with no injuries reported.

A Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service spokesperson said crews attacked the flames, and searched nearby buildings and structures to see if smoke and flames had spread.

The fire was declared under control shortly after 9:10 p.m.

A staff member at Next Door restaurant said the fire happened outdoors near a back lane, spreading to a wooden pole and wires.

Police investigating ‘serious incident’ on Wellington Crescent

12:02 PM

Winnipeg police are investigating a “serious incident” on Wellington Crescent today.

Officers responded to the scene on the 200 block of Wellington Crescent just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, a WPS spokesperson confirmed.

“There is no threat to public safety. No further information is available,” Const. Pat Saydak wrote in an email.