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Former teacher sent more than 150 ‘romantic’ messages to teen student, court told

A former Catholic school teacher who sent inappropriate “romantic” messages to a teenage student, professing he loved her, should go to prison for 30 months, a judge was told Tuesday.

Ketan Badiani, 59, previously pleaded guilty to one count of child luring connected to more than 150 messages he sent the girl between October 2024 and March 2025 while a teacher at St. Maurice School.

“It’s very clear the communications were beyond what’s appropriate and by pleading guilty he’s admitting his intention was to further a secondary offence,” Crown attorney Brett Rach told provincial court Judge Tim Killeen, arguing Badiani was grooming the girl so he could sexually exploit her.

Badiani communicated with the girl over the school’s Microsoft Teams account, messaging her at all times of the day and night and during holidays.

Today’s horoscope

MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping (except for food and gas) and important decisions after 6 p.m. After that, the moon moves from Taurus into Gemini.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Discussions about home repairs and family matters, especially with respect to project costs, might occur. It’s an excellent day to make plans about the education and care of your kids. Some however, will plan out a vacation — every detail.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

‘This is Mommy’s park’: city honours two-time Olympic champion curler Lawes

When Kaitlyn Lawes drives through her childhood neighbourhood, she’ll now be able to point to a park bearing her name — and tell her daughters that anything is possible.

Federal government to build $267-M emergency research lab in Winnipeg

The federal government says it will build a $267-million medical countermeasures laboratory in Winnipeg with the goal of preparing Canada for future pandemics or outbreaks.

Expected to open in 2033, the national site will help the country develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tools, Winnipeg Liberal MP Terry Duguid said.

“This is a big deal for our city and for our province, a big deal for life sciences in Canada,” he told reporters Wednesday. “This facility is going to help protect the nation and help protect the world.”

Ottawa said the site — to be located next to the National Microbiology Laboratory’s Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health on Arlington Street, just north of William Avenue — draws on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.