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Free Press Head Start for Feb. 2, 2026

Good morning.

A Winnipeg medical clinic is notifying patients about a possible breach of their personal health information after RCMP said its data system may have been hacked. Kevin Rollason reports.

A new contract with expanded paid bereavement leave at Red River College Polytech would be a “good thing” for all Manitoba employees, says the head of the union that negotiated it. Carol Sanders has the story.

— David Fuller

 

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Your forecast

Mainly sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High -17 C, wind chill -30 this morning and -24 this afternoon. Risk of frostbite.


🌱 “It’s Groundhog Day… again.” The spotlight is on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania on Monday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil announce whether he saw his own shadow, thereby predicting six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

Thousands attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day. The Associated Press has more here.

What’s happening today

🛼 Roller derby can come with real physical risks — bruises, torn ligaments and broken bones. For the members of Indigenous Rising, however, participating in the full-contact sport has been a deeply healing experience.

The groundbreaking all-Indigenous female roller derby team is the subject of Rising Through the Fray, a new documentary at Dave Barber Cinematheque, 100 Arthur St., on now until Wednesday. Eva Wasney has a preview here.

Members of Indigenous Rising represent their own Indigenous nations from around the world, rather than their birth countries.(Nish Media)

Members of Indigenous Rising represent their own Indigenous nations from around the world, rather than their birth countries.(Nish Media)

Today’s must-read

Tenants of a Wolseley apartment building that has been without a working heating system for almost a month were still waiting for the outage to be resolved Sunday afternoon.

A provincial spokesperson said Friday the landlord of 875 Westminster Ave. told the Residential Tenancies Branch that repairs were expected to be completed that day.

Tenant Raina Enns told the Free Press a Thorwin Properties manager sent an email Sunday that said the installation of a new boiler is going well, and the company hopes to get the heat going Monday. Chris Kitching has the story.

The building at 875 Westminster Ave. has been without heat for almost a month. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

The building at 875 Westminster Ave. has been without heat for almost a month. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)

On the bright side

Shirley Lozinski struggles to remember when exactly it was that she started volunteering with Meals on Wheels Winnipeg.

“I never really thought about it because I never thought I would be doing it this long,” the 70-year-old says. After a moment, Lozinski narrows it down to 1988.

When she got involved with the organization, which provides home delivery of meals to anyone who cannot prepare a meal for themselves, she figured it would be temporary. Today, she is one of the organization’s longest-serving volunteers. Aaron Epp has more here.

For volunteers Shirley Lozinski and Brett Caren, delivering meals is not only an opportunity to connect with seniors in need, but an opportunity to connect with family and friends alike. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)

For volunteers Shirley Lozinski and Brett Caren, delivering meals is not only an opportunity to connect with seniors in need, but an opportunity to connect with family and friends alike. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press)

On this date

On Feb. 2, 1928: The Manitoba Free Press reported an eight-year-old girl died in a farmhouse fire near Cardiff, Sask. In Rome, Italian leader Benito Mussolini declared the entire Italian citizenry would receive military training and the Fascist militia would become part of the regular Italian army during time of war. A Winnipeg barrister successfully defended a boy against charges of stealing four fur coats valued at $575, but outside the courtroom discovered his own chinchilla coat had been stolen. Search our archives for more here.

Today’s front page

Get the full story: Read today’s e-edition of the Free Press.

 
 

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Top news

Chris Kitching:

NDP pushes for investigation into sale of former PC HQ

The NDP wants Manitoba’s elections commissioner to investigate the Progressive Conservatives over the sale of the Tory party’s former headquarters in downtown Winnipeg. In a complaint to commission... Read More

 

Staff:

Bunibonibee chief mourned

Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chief Richard Hart is being remembered for leading with integrity, humility and kindess as the community mourns his death. Read More

 

Maggie Macintosh:

Sash projects weave together school spirit, Métis culture

A Métis artist is taking her loom-weaving kit on the road to teach students about an iconic staple in her ancestors’ wardrobe and promote school spirit. Casandra Woolever, the full-time creative be... Read More

 

Tyler Searle:

Braving the cold, helping those in need

Annual triathlon sees athletes raise funds for homeless Read More

 
 
 

New in Sports

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press:

Canada’s Kerri Einarson wins Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 11 ends

MISSISSAUGA - All night, Canada's Kerri Einarson and Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes were missing their shots. But with the Scotties Tournament of Hearts hanging in the balance, Einarson drilled a s... Read More

 

Taylor Allen:

Bombers sign Broxton and Ceresna

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have landed two of the biggest free agents on the market. The Free Press was first to report early Sunday the Bombers agreed to terms with standout tackle Jarell Broxton o... Read More

 

Ken Wiebe:

Comrie’s best coming when it’s needed

Backup goalie giving Jets chance to stay in games, says head coach Read More

 
 

New in Arts and Entertainment

James Pollard, The Associated Press:

Music’s biggest stars use the Grammys stage to protest Trump’s immigration crackdown

Entertainment’s awards season has coincided with the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign in Minneapolis, forcing artists to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolt agai... Read More

 

Conrad Sweatman and Matthew Teklemariam:

Winterruption helped fight deep freeze

Leave it to a city as cold as Mars to throw one of Canada’s most important alt-pop music festivals during the winter months. Read More

 

Photos by Mikaela MacKenzie:

Nature’s healing power

A new exhibit at the Leaf explores the magical powers of herbs and botanicals. The exhibit, titled Nature’s Apothecary, allows visitors to learn more about traditional plant knowledge and how dried bo... Read More

 
 

New in Business

Aaron Epp:

Driven to deliver

Meals on Wheels visits provide food for lonely clients’ souls along with food for their plates Read More

 

Joel Schlesinger:

Money mind-shift

New book from renowned Canadian financial author aims to help you ‘Save Yourself’ Read More

 
 

Fresh opinions

Dan Lett:

Poilievre’s survival rooted in confirmation bias

It’s hard to believe that Conservative Party members who voted to allow Pierre Poilievre’s continued leadership actually understand the consequences of their decision. In the bubble of the party’s ... Read More

 

Editorial:

Restrained protesting — difficult, but necessary

There is something truly remarkable happening on the streets of Minneapolis, as protesters continue to frustrate the extrajudicial arrests, detainments and fatal shootings orchestrated by U.S. Preside... Read More

 

Brent Bellamy:

More needs to be done to attract housing

The City of Winnipeg recently celebrated that 4,993 new homes started construction in 2025. This number represents a 12.3 per cent increase over the previous year and was more than double the Canadian national average of 5.6 per cent. Read More

 
 

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