News briefs for Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Expected snowfall could delay home-care services

3:26 PM

Home-care clients should expect delays or cancellations Wednesday because of heavy snowfall in the forecast, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority advises.

With Environment Canada forecasting 15 to 25 cms of snow for much of southern and western Manitoba starting tonight, some home-care visits may have to be cancelled, the health authority stated.

“We will make every effort to contact clients whose visits will be cancelled to notify them of the change. Depending on the nature of the service, some visits could be delayed or cancelled,” the WRHA stated in a news release.

“Clients wishing to cancel their own visits may contact their case coordinator, nurse or if after business hours, contact After Hours at 204-788-8331.”

Snowfall warnings have been issued for Manitoba, with Environment Canada forecasting the heaviest snow, up to 30 cm, in the Parklands region.

Manitoba groups on Mexican trade mission

1:41 PM

Manitoba businesses and provincial leaders have joined a federal trade mission to Mexico.

Entities such as Manitoba Hydro International, Agri-Tel Grain and the Canola Council of Canada will partake in at least 100 business-to-business meetings with Mexican companies and investors, a provincial news release states.

Provincial representatives are focused on agriculture and food, advanced manufacturing, clean technology, information and communication technology, and creative industries.

Business Minister Jamie Moses is attending. The grand chiefs of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization — Kyra Wilson and Jerry Daniels, respectively — have also joined.

Manitoba groups are slated to meet with Cameron MacKay, Canada’s ambassador to Mexico. They are set to visit Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Moses is scheduled for events hosted by Mexican business councils, trade organizations, diplomats and government.

RRC Polytech waives application fees for Indigenous students

12:29 PM

Prospective students who self-identify as Indigenous can now apply for free to Red River College Polytechnic.

The post-secondary school is waiving application fees year-round for Métis, Inuit and First Nations (status and non-status) students. Previously, the basic application fee for domestic students was $122. The move follows successful month-long pilot projects in 2024 and 2025 in which application fees were waived. More than 400 and 700 applications came in during those months, RRC stated in a news release.

The school is holding an Open Doors event tomorrow, Feb. 18, at its Notre Dame and Exchange District campuses and is offering future students a chance to win a $5,000 bursary to further reduce financial barriers.

Roots legend Steve Earle at the Burt in July

12:04 PM

Singer-songwriter Steve Earle, one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation, is bringing his latest tour to the Burton Cummings Theatre on July 15. A frequent visitor to local stages, the protegé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark is a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, the Pretenders and others.

In 1986, Earle — who is also an actor and author — released Guitar Town, which hit No. 1 on the country charts and is now regarded as a classic of the Americana genre. In 2023 Earle’s 1988 hit Copperhead Road was made an official state song of Tennessee.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.ca. Prices have yet to be announced.

Punjabi pop star Karan Aujla coming to arena in May

11:57 AM

Punjabi-Canadian star Karan Aulja has announced a Winnipeg date on his P-Pop Culture Tour, which brings him to Canada Life Centre on May 13.

Born in Ghurala, India, Karan Aujla began songwriting as a means of coping with the loss of his parents. After moving to Canada at 17, he penned songs for Punjabi artists before gaining fame with his own release, 2018’s Don’t Worry. 

Karan Aujla is approaching three billion views on YouTube, has garnered over one billion audio streams and 17 million Spotify monthly listeners. His latest album, P-Pop Culture, is the highest charting debut for a Punjabi-language album in Canadian history.

General tickets for the Winnipeg date are available Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. at Livenation.com. There are various presales beginning Wednesday.

Hundreds at city hall protest bylaw proposal

10:01 AM

Despite the expectation that a proposed bylaw that would limit “nuisance” protests would be shelved by council Tuesday, around 200 people gathered at City Hall to speak out against it.

Labour organizers, religious leadership and other groups spoke to protesters; some held signs with slogans like “Fight for your right to protest” and “You are the nuisance.”

Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) originally put forward the proposal for a Safe Access to to Vulnerable Infrastructure bylaw, which would ban “nuisance” protests and intimidation within 100 metres of schools, places of worship, hospitals and other locations, but said Monday that he had changed his mind after public feedback and would shelve it.

Caryn Douglas, a minister in the United Church of Canada, called on the group outside of city hall and the councilors in it to not “let the rising tide of fear of the other shape us.”

“Denying access to be seen and heard on the streets is denying advocacy for justice,” she said.

City council’s executive policy committee will hear from over 100 delegates speaking in opposition to the report and two in favour at Tuesday’s meeting.